Foreign minister may not be replaced, president’s advisors among possible candidates

Lithuania’s prime ministerial candidate Mindaugas Sinkevičius has said the current foreign minister, Kęstutis Budrys, may not necessarily be replaced in the new government, though other candidates are under consideration, including members of the president’s team and current deputy foreign ministers, LRT reports.

Among the potential replacements for Budrys, sources mention Deividas Matulionis, the president’s chief advisor on national security, as well as Asta Skaisgirytė, the president’s chief advisor on foreign policy, and the current deputy foreign ministers.

“There are several names in consideration: Asta Skaisgirytė, the deputy ministers working in the team now, and Kęstutis Budrys,” Sinkevičius told BNS. “We are not deciding between one person or another at this point. No decisions have been made yet, and I can say that openly. We will hold consultations with the president and look for the best option for the state.”

Sinkevičius, a Social Democrat, described his personal relationship with Budrys as professional and good but acknowledged that the minister does not always align with the current government’s program goals. “Sometimes you might want more ambition, a faster pace,” he said.

The discussion about replacing Budrys comes as Social Democrats form a new government, replacing the “Nemuno aušra” party with the Democratic Union “For Lithuania” in the coalition. Critics within the ruling parties have accused Budrys of continuing the policies of the previous conservative government rather than implementing the Social Democrats’ agenda. Recent criticism has focused on insufficient efforts to restore diplomatic relations with China and his statements about NATO’s potential to strike Kaliningrad.

President Gitanas Nausėda has repeatedly stated that he does not understand why Social Democrats are dissatisfied with Budrys, asserting that the foreign minister is performing his duties adequately. Budrys has led the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since late 2024, previously serving as the president’s chief advisor on national security.

In a separate issue, Sinkevičius stated that the legalisation of gender-neutral partnerships is not a top priority for him. He noted that the Social Democratic faction in the Seimas faces a serious internal discussion on the matter, as opinions vary widely. “This requires a serious party discussion, especially within the faction, about whether we should prioritise this political agenda over the concerns of our voters, for whom this issue is not at the top of their priorities. Their main concerns are prices, healthcare accessibility, economic survival, transparency, and so on,” he said.

Sinkevičius added that the Social Democrats would engage in the discussion if conservative and liberal opposition parties took the lead on the issue. “If there is some consensus and if the right-wing and the same liberals show initiative, then we can talk,” he said.