Lithuanian Social Democrats name Blinkevičiūtė honorary chair

The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) has conferred the title of honorary chair on former party leader Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, as the ruling party gathered for its 130th congress in Jonava on Thursday, LRT.lt reports.

Delegates at the congress also re-elected Jonava district mayor Mindaugas Sinkevičius as party chair, the sole remaining candidate after Alytus mayor Nerijus Cesiulis withdrew his bid. Cesiulis stated his local branch had not nominated him, adding that “elections here are not won on election day—they’re decided much earlier.”

Sinkevičius, now serving a second term, told journalists the party’s governing council will meet in late May to finalise decisions on its coalition with the “Nemunas Dawn” party, led by Remigijus Žemaitaitis. “We aim to conclude the coalition issue definitively by the end of May, one way or another,” he said.

Tensions within the coalition resurfaced after some LSDP members voted against the Kapčiamestis polygon project, a key government initiative. Žemaitaitis has dismissed concerns about coalition stability, but criticism persists among Social Democrats. Cesiulis condemned Žemaitaitis’s leadership, accusing him of “mocking the nation and our party” while prioritising political survival.

The congress agenda also includes electing deputy leaders, amending the party statute, and adopting a resolution on improving Lithuania’s demographic situation.