Lithuania’s ‘Nemuno Aušra’ ministers prepare to leave as coalition shifts

Lithuania’s agriculture minister Andrius Palionis and environment minister Kastytis Žuromskas, both delegates of the Nemuno Aušra party, say they are ready to step down as the ruling coalition prepares to exclude their faction, LRT reports, citing BNS.

The Social Democrats announced last weekend they would remove Nemuno Aušra from the governing majority, inviting the Democratic Union ‘For Lithuania’ to join coalition talks instead. Both ministers, who took office in September 2025 after Gintautas Paluckas’s resignation, say they have long accepted the temporary nature of their roles.

Palionis, who previously served as agriculture minister from 2019–2020, told BNS he does not regret his brief tenure. “I always knew where I was going,” he said. “You work today, and tomorrow you might be carrying a box out of the office.” He noted that a cardboard box—unpacked since his transition from deputy minister—remains in his office, ready for his departure.

Žuromskas declined to comment on his emotions but acknowledged the inevitability of political change. “Everything is temporary with us,” he said, adding that he and his team would continue working until replacements are appointed.

Palionis highlighted key achievements, including the designation of agriculture as a sector of strategic importance for national security and the completion of EU Rural Development Programme (KPP) payments. He expressed confidence that ongoing projects would continue under the next government but warned of broader challenges, such as low farmgate prices and rising energy costs, which he called “extremely difficult” for the sector.

Žuromskas said his ministry would soon publish a full account of its work but emphasized that his focus remains on passing pending legislation before the Seimas session ends. “Most tasks were completed on schedule or are underway,” he said.

Looking ahead, Palionis plans to return to business—though not in agriculture—while Žuromskas said he has not yet considered his next steps. “Right now, I’m truly not thinking about it,” he said.