Virginijus Sinkevičius: Democrats aim to restore public trust in politics
Virginijus Sinkevičius, the newly elected leader of the Democratic Union “For Lithuania,” has stated that the party’s primary goal is to restore public trust in politics, LRT reports.
Speaking on the radio program “Dienos tema,” Sinkevičius said that the party, now part of the ruling coalition, will focus on strengthening its local branches, preparing for upcoming municipal elections, and increasing member involvement in decision-making.
“Our task is to restore trust in politics in Lithuania. The work of our three ministers is important, but so is the work of those who often do the unseen work—the backbone of the party. This means our local branches, especially as we approach municipal elections. Our goal is to present strong candidates for mayoral positions and, ultimately, lists that can work and represent people in municipal council elections,” Sinkevičius said.
He emphasized the importance of greater party member engagement, stating that their insights and contributions are essential for analyzing state problems and finding solutions. “In this case, empowering party members is undoubtedly the most important goal,” he added.
Sinkevičius has been serving as interim leader since April, following the resignation of Saulius Skvernelis, who stepped down amid corruption allegations. Sinkevičius noted that the party has already demonstrated it is not dependent on a single leader.
“We have seen other parties collapse without a leader. We took on leadership during a difficult period, and there was clear unity even among deputies. We did not engage in internal intrigues or power games but worked consistently, focusing on the tasks we must implement,” he said.
He believes the party must focus on strategic state priorities, such as demography and defense, and offer clear solutions to the public’s pressing issues. “People are tired of political conflicts and the constant criticism among politicians. They need concrete answers to their problems and a political force that openly addresses these issues and proposes clear solutions,” Sinkevičius said.