Prime minister Ruginienė declines to comment after announcement of her replacement

Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has declined to comment on political developments after the governing Social Democrats’ leader, Mindaugas Sinkevičius, announced his readiness to take over as prime minister, LRT reports.

Ruginienė was present in the Seimas on Thursday but ignored journalists’ requests for comment as she entered the plenary session. Her last media briefing at the government took place on 8 June, and she has not held her usual post-cabinet press conferences in recent weeks.

A spokesperson for the prime minister, Ignas Algirdas Dobrovolskas, told BNS that Ruginienė comments on current issues in various formats depending on her schedule. He noted that the government is set to resign on 23 June, with a press briefing by the prime minister planned after the cabinet meeting.

Ruginienė also did not attend the signing of the new ruling coalition agreement by the Social Democrats, Democrats, and the Farmers and Greens Union on Thursday. Sinkevičius told reporters that while changes may provoke emotions, high-level politicians can manage them. He said Ruginienė missed the event due to a work meeting, as the government continues its work until its resignation.

“Any change, whatever it may be, evokes emotions, but I think politicians at this level can handle emotions,” Sinkevičius said. “Emotions do not take over—what matters is understanding the situation and a clear mind.”

Ruginienė has served as prime minister since autumn last year, replacing Gintautas Paluckas, who resigned in the summer.