Virginijus Sinkevičius elected permanent leader of ruling Democrats

The ruling Democratic Union “For Lithuania” has elected Virginijus Sinkevičius as its permanent leader during a party congress on Saturday, as reported by BNS.

Sinkevičius, currently serving as an interim leader and member of the European Parliament, will lead the party for the next four years. He ran against Health Minister and MP Linas Kukuraitis in the leadership election. Other potential candidates, including Energy Minister Lukas Savickas and former Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius, declined to participate.

In his speech, Sinkevičius described the party as the choice Lithuania needs most at this time. “Thank you for not giving up. Together, we will create, and together with the people of Lithuania, we will achieve many political victories that Lithuania deserves,” he said.

Sinkevičius also noted that the party had successfully overcome recent challenges, proving it is not dependent on a single individual. “Today, we turn a new page in our community with a clear experience that we passed the test,” he stated. “You are living proof that this party, this community, has never been and never will be a one-person party.”

The leadership election follows the resignation of former leader Saulius Skvernelis in spring, after prosecutors sought to lift his immunity in a corruption investigation at the State Plant Service.

During the congress, the party also presented its first 11 candidates for mayoral elections in 2027. Among them are Rasa Bekėžienė for Klaipėda, Tautvydas Džiauta for Alytus, and Domas Griškevičius for Šiauliai. The remaining candidates will be announced in September.

Health Minister Kukuraitis expressed gratitude to Skvernelis, comparing his leadership to that of an apostle. “We would like to thank Saulius Skvernelis. He is one of the reasons we are together, and his leadership was impressive both in our party and in society as a whole,” Kukuraitis said.