Lithuania’s acting foreign minister calls meeting with designated PM substantive, remains silent on future in office

Lithuania’s acting Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys described his meeting with designated Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius as substantive but declined to say whether he would remain in office, LRT reports.

“We had a substantive conversation, and the designated prime minister will probably comment on everything himself,” Budrys told journalists on Wednesday.

He emphasised that the process of appointing ministers “is proceeding with its own dynamics and order.”

“The conversation is entirely natural as with an acting minister. In any case, I think it is necessary. A lot of things happen even in summer,” Budrys said.

He pledged to continue his work until mid-July, when “a new government will take office and I will no longer be acting.”

A new cabinet is being formed after social democrats ended their coalition with the “aušriečiai” (Homeland Union). Budrys is among the ministers under consideration for replacement. Both social democrats and the “valstiečiai” (Farmers and Greens Union) have criticised him for insufficient activity in renewing diplomatic relations with China. However, President Gitanas Nausėda has expressed satisfaction with the minister’s work.

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