Mindaugas Sinkevičius to run in LSDP leadership election

Vilnius, Lithuania — The acting leader of Lithuania’s governing Social Democratic Party (LSDP), Mindaugas Sinkevičius, announced on Tuesday that he will stand in the upcoming party leadership election scheduled for May.

“I see a need to continue the work we have started,” Sinkevičius told journalists in the Seimas, the national parliament.

He highlighted several policy achievements under his interim leadership, including reforms to the second pension pillar, changes in healthcare and education systems, and strengthened national defence. Earlier this week, LSDP reported that Sinkevičius’ candidacy had been endorsed by 52 of the party’s 60 local branches. By comparison, fewer branches nominated other candidates, including Vilnius district mayor Robert Duchnevičius, Seimas speaker Juozas Olekas, and MPs Orinta Leiputė, Vytautas Grubliauskas, Kęstutis Vilkauskas, Tadas Prajara, and Alytus mayor Nerijus Cesiulis.

Sinkevičius declined to predict which of these candidates would ultimately contest the election. “We will see over time. There may be one or several colleagues left, and most likely they will not be opposing but competing, offering something different from the current party line,” he said. “I am satisfied with any outcome. I am not afraid of competition.”

The extraordinary leadership election follows the resignation of Gintautas Paluckas last summer amid scrutiny from law enforcement. The new leader will serve for one year to complete the remainder of Paluckas’ term. Sinkevičius said that winning the internal vote would allow him to “set the tone with greater confidence, knowing he has the party’s support.”

LSDP leaders are currently elected for two-year terms, though there have been recent discussions about extending the mandate to four years. The party holds 52 seats in the Seimas, making it the largest parliamentary group.