Foreign Ministry retains deputy ministers Mitkus, Verbickas, and chancellor Stakėnienė

The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry will continue with deputy ministers Sigitas Mitkus and Vidmantas Verbickas, while Aistė Stakėnienė remains as chancellor, BNS reports.

Former finance minister Kristupas Vaitiekūnas will join the deputy minister team, overseeing economic diplomacy. A spokesperson for Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, Kristina Belikova, confirmed plans to appoint an additional deputy minister to replace diplomat Audra Plepytė, who has held the post since July of last year after completing her term as ambassador to the US. Plepytė was responsible for transatlantic cooperation, global policy, and Lithuania’s global affairs.

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius declined to explain the decision to dismiss Plepytė. Social Democrats had previously criticised her appointment, arguing the party had sufficient internal candidates for the role.

The cabinet reshuffle follows a coalition restructuring. The current majority, comprising the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, the Democrats “For Lithuania” and the Lithuanian Farmers, Greens and Christian Families Union factions, holds 75 seats in the Seimas.