Nauseda begins meetings with ministerial candidates, expects focus on public welfare from Kukuraitis
Tuesday 30th June 2026 on 08:15 in
Lithuania
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda will begin meetings with candidates for ministerial positions in the new government on Tuesday, his chief economic and social policy advisor Vaidas Augustinavičius announced to Žinių radijas.
The first discussions will be with Linas Kukuraitis, nominated for health minister, and Lukas Savickas, proposed for energy minister.
Last week, Nausėda expressed uncertainty to LNK Žinios about whether Kukuraitis, a Democrat, could manage the complex healthcare system. Augustinavičius noted the system involves many competing stakeholders, making it essential to maintain focus and prioritise public health.
“The president’s goal in today’s meeting with Kukuraitis is to understand how he would balance these issues and ensure that in this complex system, the primary beneficiary remains the public and their health,” Augustinavičius said.
He added that Kukuraitis’s candidacy is viewed positively due to his experience as a former social security and labour minister, which could aid the government in upcoming healthcare reforms.
The meeting will also cover Kukuraitis’s proposed political team. Previously, Nausėda stated that a strong energy minister candidate must separate private business interests from state goals in the sector.
The Democratic Union “For Lithuania,” which has returned to the ruling coalition, nominated Kukuraitis and Savickas, and will also propose a candidate for agriculture minister. The new government is being formed following a coalition reshuffle and the resignation of Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė’s cabinet.
On Tuesday, the Seimas will vote on the candidacy of Mindaugas Sinkevičius, the Social Democrats’ leader, for prime minister. Augustinavičius also noted positive contributions from interim Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitiekūnas, though it remains unclear if Sinkevičius will ask him to continue in the role. The advisor confirmed no other candidates for prime minister are currently under consideration.