Lithuanian social democrat leader says he is resistant to influence and corruption

Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius has stated he believes he is resistant to lobbying and corruption, despite past controversies, **politika.lt** and ELTA reported on Monday.

Speaking in an online discussion, Sinkevičius acknowledged the so-called *”čekučių”* (checkbook) scandal—a historical practice of informal party financing—but insisted the issue had been legally resolved. “I think I am resistant. I know I am resistant,” he said. “Yes, we had a situation that repeated itself hundreds of times. It was an illegal, bad historical practice. It has been corrected, but many will still have to go through legal proceedings. I went through them. I believe the courts assessed the guilt.”

He described the scandal as a “valuable lesson,” adding: “A politician’s reputation is perhaps the most important thing they can build.”

When asked whether he recognised the damage caused by the LSDP’s past coalition with the *Nemuno aušra* (Dawn of Nemunas) party, Sinkevičius replied: “We could now beat ourselves up and apologise. Yes, in 2025 I inherited a certain situation and returned to politics. We decided how to move forward. Political chaos or noise is unnecessary—there’s enough of it already. Making mistakes is human, but correcting them is what matters.”

Addressing recent negotiations to form a new ruling coalition with *Nemuno aušra* and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, he explained that the decision followed attempts to “smooth out differences” and normalise relations. “When the time comes, you start thinking: either close your eyes and continue, or make changes,” he said. “And the timing for political changes is limited—starting them in autumn, before Lithuania’s EU Council presidency, would look odd.”

Sinkevičius dismissed suggestions that media pressure or influencer criticism influenced the decision, stating he had already resolved to act during a party meeting. “I didn’t want to ruin the holiday [Victory Day], so I said: let’s wait a month and then decide,” he said.

Reflecting on his political career, he noted his path began through his father’s connections to the Social Democrats but emphasised his pragmatic approach. “I’m a practical, down-to-earth person,” he said. “Some are conceptualists, philosophers, idealists. I’m closer to the ground: what decisions can improve the economy?”

Sinkevičius, who briefly served as economy minister and held municipal leadership roles, returned to politics “somewhat unexpectedly” after legal challenges, he admitted.