Seimas approves Mindaugas Sinkevičius as next prime minister

Lithuania’s Seimas on Tuesday approved Mindaugas Sinkevičius as the country’s next prime minister, with 80 lawmakers voting in favour, two against and 28 abstaining, LRT.lt reports.

Speaking to journalists after securing parliamentary backing, Sinkevičius said he had not yet considered moving into the official prime ministerial residence in Turniškės. “I am still the mayor, if anyone has doubts. It’s not worth moving anywhere ahead of time; I’m not packing my suitcases yet. For now, I truly see my life in Jonava. We’ll see how things develop in the future,” he said.

Opposition lawmakers did not hold back criticism after meeting with Sinkevičius in the Seimas chamber. The incoming prime minister described such criticism as natural. “I would be surprised if the opposition said: ‘What a great candidate, we support him, he is the most suitable and most experienced.’ That would probably be a political utopia. It’s natural that they try to spot nuances, downsides, weaknesses. They are pointed out. And time, I think, will show whether those who claim so are right, or whether my work and that of my team proves the opposite,” Sinkevičius said.

He noted that the number of votes received in the Seimas demonstrated a strong mandate. Sinkevičius left the chamber accompanied by security, acknowledging that he will have to adapt to a reduction in privacy. “Sometimes in life, situations arise where you think you know that something might happen, and you prepare for it morally and psychologically, but when it does happen, you’re still not necessarily ready. I will have to adapt as well. There’s simply no other scenario. Humans are creatures of habit—they adapt to everything, to restrictions, to good and bad things, to comfort and discomfort,” he said.

Sinkevičius also met with Interior Minister Vladislavas Kondratovičius, who expressed a desire to continue in his role. The incoming prime minister discussed the situation at the ministry, data breaches, and various local government issues. He said he left the meeting with a positive and favourable impression, adding: “I don’t think I have ever publicly criticised, even if life and various problems arise.”

However, Sinkevičius did not disclose which ministers the Social Democrats would replace or which would remain in their posts.

LRT.lt notes that the Social Democrats decided to change the ruling majority formed last summer, removing Remigijus Žemaitaitis’ “Nemuno aušra” party from the coalition. Disagreements among coalition partners have persisted since the 2024 Seimas elections, when the first ruling majority was formed. 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. This will be the third ruling majority and government in a year and a half.