Mindaugas Sinkevičius names Valdas Majauskas as potential acting mayor of Jonava

Prime ministerial nominee and leader of the Social Democratic Party Mindaugas Sinkevičius has proposed Valdas Majauskas, the current director of administration, as a potential acting mayor of Jonava district municipality, reported BNS.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Sinkevičius stated that if his candidacy for prime minister is confirmed and he must leave his current position, the municipal council will appoint an acting mayor according to established procedures. He identified Majauskas as one of the most realistic candidates for the role.

“He is a competent person who has worked in Jonava for many years and knows the municipality’s operations well,” Sinkevičius said.

He also suggested that current deputy mayor Povilas Beišys could take over as administration director, describing him as someone with municipal experience who currently oversees several important projects related to city infrastructure and business investments in Jonava.

According to the election code, if less than a year remains until regular municipal elections, early elections are not held. If a mayor’s term ends prematurely, the council appoints an acting mayor from among its members by a majority vote.

Majauskas was elected to the Jonava district municipal council in 2023 but is currently not a council member. To become mayor, he would need to return to the council.

President Gitanas Nausėda has proposed Sinkevičius for the position of prime minister. If the Seimas approves the candidacy and the new government’s program, Sinkevičius will have to resign as mayor of Jonava district.

“If upcoming political decisions lead to changes, I will have to leave a job into which I have truly put a lot of heart. Believe me, this is not an easy decision, because Jonava has always been and will remain my home,” Sinkevičius wrote.

Sinkevičius has led Jonava district, with interruptions, since 2011. In 2023, he was suspected in a “čekiukai” (petty cash) case for the unjustified use of official funds while serving as a council member, using the money to purchase two televisions and other communication services. In October 2024, the Court of Appeals convicted him and barred him from holding public office for several years, leading to his removal as mayor. However, the Supreme Court of Lithuania terminated his criminal case last spring, ruling that Sinkevičius may have committed an official misdemeanour not subject to criminal liability, allowing him to return as mayor.