Lithuanian PM tells opposition leader to focus on his own ratings amid leadership speculation

Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has dismissed calls from the interim leader of the Democrats’ Union “For Lithuania” for Social Democrat chief Mindaugas Sinkevičius to take over as head of government, urging him instead to “focus on his own ratings,” LRT reports.

“Mindaugas Sinkevičius is an excellent leader. The Social Democrats did not elect him to head the party on May 1 for nothing. But Virginijus Sinkevičius, it seems to me, should first take care of his own ratings, and only then look at his neighbours,” Ruginienė told journalists on Wednesday.

Her remarks follow a statement by Virginijus Sinkevičius, interim chairman of the Democrats’ Union “For Lithuania,” who suggested that the Social Democrats’ leader should assume leadership of the government. The Social Democrats and their coalition partners have previously stated they see no grounds for such a change.

Sinkevičius, elected permanent party chairman in early May, has not ruled out the possibility of moving to Vilnius and taking a central government position during this parliamentary term—but only if such a transition occurs “organically.” Political circles have speculated for some time that he could replace Ruginienė as prime minister.

Ruginienė assumed the premiership last year following the resignation of Gintautas Paluckas amid media investigations into his and his family’s business ties. According to the latest poll by Spinter Research for Delfi, only 3.5% of respondents view Ruginienė as the most suitable candidate for prime minister, placing her fifth in the rankings.

Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, honorary chair of the Social Democrats, declined to comment on whether Sinkevičius should take over the government, telling ELTA in Strasbourg: “I know nothing, absolutely nothing, I cannot comment.” She also did not respond when asked if Sinkevičius would be a better prime minister than Ruginienė.