Virginijus Sinkevičius elected as leader of Democrats for Lithuania

The governing Democrats for Lithuania party has elected Virginijus Sinkevičius as its permanent leader during a congress held on Saturday. Sinkevičius, currently serving as an interim leader and member of the European Parliament, will continue to lead the party from Brussels for the next four years, reported BNS.

Sinkevičius stated he does not plan to resign from his European Parliament mandate until the next Seimas (parliamentary) elections in autumn 2028. “This EP mandate will end within these four years, but exactly when I will resign, I think I will be able to answer that question after some time,” he told journalists at the party congress.

He emphasized that his work in the European Parliament remains as important as his duties to the party. “The EP mandate was entrusted to me by the people of Lithuania, and the work in the EP is just as important as the work for the community. I believe that in recent months I have managed to prove that it is possible to combine both,” Sinkevičius said.

Addressing concerns about the declining ratings of the former leader, Sinkevičius urged the party to focus on work rather than polls. “We must concentrate not on the rating, but on the work, and people will appreciate that. The strength of the Democrats is still their work. We came to the government with very specific tasks that we must implement,” he said.

Sinkevičius also stressed that the party’s ministers must strengthen its reputation by demonstrating responsibility. “Our ministers must undoubtedly strengthen the party’s name with their work, proving to the people of Lithuania that the Democrats for Lithuania is the choice that can ensure less chaos and more responsibility,” he added.

Sinkevičius ran against Health Minister and Seimas member Linas Kukuraičis, winning with 218 out of 278 votes. Other potential candidates, including Energy Minister Lukas Savickas and former Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius, declined to run.

Before the election, Sinkevičius stated that Democrats for Lithuania is the choice the country needs most at this time. “Thank you for not giving up, and together we will create, together with the people of Lithuania we will earn many political victories that Lithuania deserves. Because we are the choice that Lithuania needs most today,” he said.

In spring, former leader Saulius Skvernelis stepped down amid a corruption investigation at the State Plant Service, which led to a request to lift his legal immunity. Sinkevičius noted that the party successfully overcame this challenge, proving it is not dependent on a single individual. “I think that today we are turning a new page for our community with a very clear experience that we have passed the test,” he said.

The party also presented 13 candidates for mayoral positions across Lithuania’s 60 municipalities, including Rasa Bekėžienė for Klaipėda, Tautvydas Džiauta for Alytus, and Domas Griškevičius for Šiauliai city.