President to meet with Sinkevičius during Midsummer holiday

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda will meet with Mindaugas Sinkevičius, the nominated candidate for prime minister from the new coalition, on Wednesday during the Midsummer holiday (Joninės), according to the president’s official schedule.

Speaker of the Parliament Juozas Olekas stated during a meeting of the Seimas elders on Tuesday morning that the president plans to present Sinkevičius’ candidacy for prime minister at a parliamentary session on Thursday afternoon. The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) leader is expected to be formally nominated following the resignation of the current government.

On Tuesday, the president signed a decree dismissing the government and Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė from their positions. The decree also appointed Ruginienė as interim head of the cabinet. The government resigned after the ruling coalition was reformed, and Sinkevičius announced last week his decision to lead a new cabinet.

A new coalition agreement, signed on Thursday, lists Sinkevičius as the candidate for prime minister. His nomination is scheduled for presentation in the Seimas on Thursday evening. Parliament must decide on the new prime minister within a week of the nomination. The vote requires a simple majority, and if approved, Sinkevičius will have 15 days to form a government and present its program to the Seimas for approval.

The new government is being formed after the LSDP decided to end cooperation with the “Nemuno aušra” party. Last week, the LSDP, the Democrats “For Lithuania” and the Lithuanian Farmers, Greens and Christian Families Union (LVŽKŠS) factions signed a new coalition agreement.

Under the new coalition terms, the Democrats “For Lithuania” will take over the ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Energy. The current ministers of Environment and Agriculture, Kastytis Žuromskas and Andrius Palionis, were previously delegated by “Nemuno aušra”.

Ruginienė was appointed prime minister in August last year, with her government sworn in the following September. This is the second government change in the current parliamentary term, following the resignation of former Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas last year.