Lithuania’s designated prime minister plans to meet outgoing ministers

Lithuania’s designated prime minister, Mindaugas Sinkevičius, plans to meet with outgoing ministers Vladislavas Kondratovičius and Marija Jakubauskienė in the coming days to discuss potential roles for them in his team or in ministries, LRT reports.

“I plan to meet with Vladislavas Kondratovičius and Marija Jakubauskienė in the near future. If not this week, then certainly at the beginning of next week. I want to talk to them as professionals and experts in their fields who could see themselves in my team or in the teams of individual ministries,” Sinkevičius told journalists on Tuesday.

He had previously expressed interest in retaining Kondratovičius, the acting interior minister, as well as Jakubauskienė, the health minister, and Kristupas Vaitiekūnas, the finance minister, in his cabinet. The new government’s proposed lineup includes Martynas Katelynas, Linas Kukuraitis, and Taurimas Valys for these positions.

Sinkevičius noted that scheduling the meetings may be difficult due to his obligations, including presenting the government’s programme to the Seimas (parliament) and visiting political factions and committees. “It’s hard to plan because you’re not the master of your own time—others dictate when you need to appear,” he said.

The new government is being formed after the Social Democrats restructured the ruling coalition, removing the “Nemuno aušra” party and including the Democratic Union “For Lithuania.” The Seimas must still approve the government’s programme before the new cabinet can begin work.