Seimas approves Mindaugas Sinkevičius as prime minister

The Lithuanian parliament, Seimas, officially approved Mindaugas Sinkevičius as the new prime minister on Tuesday, as reported by LRT.lt. In the vote, 80 lawmakers supported his candidacy, two opposed it, and 28 abstained.

The ruling coalition, initially formed after the 2024 parliamentary elections, has undergone changes, with social democrats deciding to restructure the majority by excluding the “Nemuno aušra” party led by Remigijus Žemaitaitis. This marks the third ruling coalition and government in a year and a half.

In mid-June, a new coalition agreement was signed by the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, the Democratic Union “For Lithuania,” and the Lithuanian Farmers, Greens, and Christian Families Union. This coalition holds 75 seats in the Seimas.

Orinta Leiputė, the elder of the Social Democratic faction, endorsed Sinkevičius, highlighting his leadership qualities, openness, and ability to find solutions in complex situations. She described him as a reliable, people-oriented leader with a vision that includes regional development, business security, and a decent life for citizens.

Conservative leader Laurynas Kasčiūnas criticized the frequent changes in the ruling coalition, jokingly offering to “lend” a candidate if needed. He also criticized former Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė for her lack of competence and the chaos during her tenure, calling the past two years a loss for Lithuania.

Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of “Nemuno aušra,” thanked Ruginienė for her sacrifices and criticized the new candidates, warning that the incompetence of the new ministers could lead to a victory for the right-wing parties in the next elections.