Lithuania’s new government to focus on air defense, social cohesion, and birth rates

Lithuania’s newly formed government, the third of this parliamentary term, has begun work with Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius outlining three key priorities: strengthening air defense, reducing societal division, and increasing birth rates, LRT reports.

Sinkevičius has urged ministers to deliver tangible results within the remaining 18 months of the term, though he acknowledged that some goals, such as boosting birth rates and social cohesion, may require decades to achieve. “I would like to see the first tangible results, especially during the summer season. They may not be major, but they should be visible,” he said.

The prime minister emphasized the need to demonstrate that the government’s work is not just a political shift but a substantive effort. With parliamentary elections approaching in 2028, large-scale decisions that could influence public sentiment are likely to be avoided, according to Robertas Dargis, former vice president of the Lithuanian Industrialists’ Confederation.

Aleksandras Abišala, a former prime minister and member of the State Progress Council, suggested that the changes under the new government would not be fundamental but rather incremental. “When there are so many priorities, there are no priorities, and without priorities, you can only go through the daily routine,” he commented.

Sinkevičius identified air defense as a critical focus, stating that progress could be made within two years if sufficient funding and priority are maintained. Tomas Godliauskas, head of the Universal Defense Association, supported this view, noting that significant changes are possible with sustained effort.

On birth rates, Sinkevičius expressed hope for an increase, though experts like Dargis and Abišala noted that such changes depend more on societal attitudes than short-term policies, with results potentially taking 20 years to materialize.

Criticism has already emerged, particularly regarding the finance minister. Algirdas Sysas, chair of the Seimas Budget and Finance Committee, doubted that any government could fulfill all its promises. Opposition members, including those from the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats, have questioned the feasibility of the government’s ambitious pledges and the preparedness of some ministers, with at least one admitting they had not yet read the program.