Jonavos branch of Social Democrats nominates Sinkevičius for party leader and mayoral elections

The Jonava branch of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) has nominated current acting leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius as its candidate for the party’s upcoming leadership election and proposed his continuation as mayor of Jonava district, the branch announced on Facebook.

Sinkevičius, who has served as Jonava’s mayor in 2011–2016 and 2019–2023, briefly lost the post in 2024 after an appeals court ruling in the so-called “cheque case” barred him from public office for three years. The Supreme Court later overturned the decision, reinstating his mandate in March. His interim replacement, Povilas Beišys, stepped down following the ruling.

The LSDP will hold its leadership election in May. Several party branches have already proposed candidates, including Sinkevičius, MP Vytautas Grubliauskas, and mayors Robert Duchnevičius (Vilnius district) and Vitalijus Mitrofanovas (Akmenė district). Both Duchnevičius and Mitrofanovas have since withdrawn, endorsing Sinkevičius instead.

Sinkevičius previously served as Lithuania’s economy minister in 2016–2017. In a recent interview, he confirmed that the LSDP had considered nominating MEP Vilija Blinkevičiūtė for the 2024 presidential election but decided against it due to low projected support. The party has pledged to field its own candidate in the 2029 presidential race.

On foreign policy, Sinkevičius stated he sees “no distance” between the government and the presidency, calling the alignment “positive” and free of confrontation.