"Yes, we backed him," he said when asked about a decision on Gelūnas nomination.
Lithuania hasn’t had its representative to UNESCO for more than two and a half years, after Ina Marčiulionytė was recalled.
Gelūnas has served as minister of culture since 2010.
It is believed that the post in Paris is a reward for Gelūnas' stance during the Financial Crimes Investigation Service (FCIS) controversy this spring. Sacking of two FCIS heads caused frictions within the Cabinet. As the Liberal and Centre Union threatened to leave the government, Gelūnas switched party affiliations, to the Liberal Union, thus keeping his post as Culture Minister and preventing a possible break-up of the Cabinet.
Gelūnas' candidacy to UNESCO must still be endorsed by the Government and President Dalia Grybauskaitė.
