Finance ministry deputy ministers to be LSDP members, experience key criterion

All deputy ministers in Lithuania’s Finance Ministry will be members of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), with professional experience as the main selection criterion, incoming Finance Minister Taurimas Valys said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a meeting with the Seimas Democratic Fraction, Valys confirmed that some current team members would remain, including a couple who worked in the political confidence team and leadership, while others would be professionals in their fields.

“All deputy ministers will be party members,” Valys said, adding: “The main criterion, of course, is experience, professionalism in this field, and a comprehensive assessment of the situation.”

According to Valys, the LSDP presidium decided on new appointments on Monday, though he had the freedom to choose his team himself. He retained individuals he had worked with extensively, evaluating their experience when deciding whether to keep or replace them.

The current acting minister, Kristupas Vaitiekūnas, has a team of deputy ministers including Darius Sadeckas, Januš Kizenevič, Neringa Rinkevičiūtė–Laurinaitienė, and Lukas Jakubonis.

The Seimas is expected to vote later on Tuesday on the government programme led by LSDP chairman Mindaugas Sinkevičius. If approved, the new cabinet will officially begin its work. President Gitanas Nausėda last week signed a decree confirming the composition of the 21st government.

ELTA reports that the previous government led by Ingrida Ruginienė resigned after the ruling coalition was reformed, and Sinkevičius announced his decision to lead a new cabinet. The current ruling coalition consists of the Seimas fractions of the LSDP, the Democratic Union “For Lithuania”, and the Lithuanian Farmers, Greens and Christian Families Union (LVŽKŠS).