Democrats present their ministerial candidates to president

Democratic Union “For Lithuania” leader Virginijus Sinkevičius met with President Gitanas Nausėda on Friday to present his party’s candidates for ministerial positions, reports LRT.lt.

The proposed candidates are Kęstutis Mažeika for Minister of Agriculture, Lukas Savickas for Minister of Energy, and Linas Kukuraitis for Minister of Health.

Sinkevičius stated that the candidates were coordinated with Mindaugas Sinkevičius, the Social Democratic Party’s candidate for prime minister, who will need to approve them. He noted that the president had no objections, describing the candidates as well-known political professionals and team players with a state-minded approach.

According to Sinkevičius, Nausėda expressed hope for continuity in government work and that the selected ministers and deputy ministers would be professionals in their fields.

Kukuraitis previously served as Minister of Social Security and Labour, while Savickas worked as an advisor to former Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis. Mažeika is a farmer and former member of the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union.

The new ruling majority was formed after the Social Democrats ended their coalition agreement with “Nemuno aušra” (The Dawn of Nemunas). A new coalition agreement was signed in mid-June by the Social Democratic Party, the Democratic Union “For Lithuania”, and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union and Christian Families Union.

Parliament will vote on Mindaugas Sinkevičius’ candidacy for prime minister on Tuesday.