Prime minister nominee proposes new finance minister

Lithuania’s designated prime minister has nominated Taurimas Valys to replace Kristupas Vaitiekūnas as finance minister, according to a report by LRT.

Valys, currently a deputy foreign minister and member of the Social Democratic Party, has previously served in the Vilnius city council and held roles in other political parties. He holds master’s degrees in law and business administration, with a background in economic studies.

President Gitanas Nausėda has also received the candidacy of Ieva Andriulaitytė for environment minister. Andriulaitytė, an environmental and energy policy expert, has worked in Brussels and previously advised the Association of Local Authorities under former minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius.

Opposition MP Ingrida Šimonytė questioned the proposed change, stating she did not understand why Vaitiekūnas, who has significant experience, was being replaced. She argued that Valys lacks sufficient knowledge of fiscal challenges, particularly with rising national debt and defence financing demands.

Nausėda described Valys as ambitious and capable of innovative solutions in public finance. Valys has previously criticised the president’s tax reform proposals but said he now sees eye to eye with Nausėda on fiscal policy.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Movement has urged the president not to confirm Martynas Katelynas, the Social Democratic nominee for interior minister, over controversial remarks comparing Lithuanian police to Belarusian riot officers and supporting lethal measures against migrants.