Virginijus Sinkevičius: decision on foreign minister must be made now or never

Coalition negotiations are ongoing, and Democratic Party leader Virginijus Sinkevičius has stated that if Social Democrats want to replace Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, the decision must be made now or never, LRT reports.

Sinkevičius confirmed that potential Democratic candidates for ministerial positions have been discussed with Social Democratic Party leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius, but names will not be disclosed until consultations with the president are complete. He emphasised that the decision on Budrys’ future should be resolved before Lithuania’s EU Council presidency begins in January 2027.

“If such a change were to happen on New Year’s Eve, it would be too late. The closer we get to the presidency, the fewer radical changes we should make. I think the decision that Mindaugas [Sinkevičius] must coordinate with the president is now or never,” Sinkevičius said.

He added that he has no major complaints about Budrys’ performance but would like more clarity on certain issues, such as the presence of US troops in Lithuania. When asked why Social Democrats might be dissatisfied with Budrys, Sinkevičius deferred to his coalition partners, stating that they would be best placed to explain their stance.

Sinkevičius also expressed satisfaction with the content of the coalition agreement, stressing that its implementation will be a shared responsibility. He hopes the process will be completed quickly to avoid disruptions ahead of upcoming municipal and parliamentary elections.

The Democratic leader confirmed that all potential ministerial candidates from his party are party members but declined to name them, citing the need to align with the president and avoid surprises. He noted that public discussions about candidates could harm their careers.