Lithuanian Social Democrats name Blinkevičiūtė honorary chair

The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) has granted the title of honorary chair to former party leader Gintautas Blinkevičiūtė, as announced during its 130th congress in Jonava on Friday, LRT.lt reports.

Delegates at the ruling party’s gathering also re-elected Jonava district mayor Mindaugas Sinkevičius as LSDP chair for another term, with no competing candidates. Alytus mayor Nerijus Cesiulis, previously considered a potential contender, confirmed he would not run, stating his local party branch had not nominated him. “No, I definitely do not plan to participate, because our branch did not propose me and did not even suggest it,” Cesiulis said, adding that leadership elections are “won much earlier” than the vote itself.

Sinkevičius told reporters ahead of the congress that the party’s council will meet in late May to finalise a decision on its coalition with Remigijus Žemaitaitis’s “Nemuno aušra” (Dawn of Nemunas) party. “We aim to conclude the coalition issue definitively by the end of May, one way or another,” he said, adding that a “qualified final decision” would be made at the upcoming council session.

Tensions within the coalition have persisted, particularly after some LSDP members voted against the proposed Kapčiamestis polygon project. Critics, including Cesiulis, have openly questioned the partnership. “I cannot even look at that man who calls himself the strongman. He humiliates himself, calls himself names, and says people mock him. He is mocking the nation and our party. We are absolutely not on the same path, but perhaps there is a desire to hold on to positions,” Cesiulis said of Žemaitaitis.

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