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Mindaugas Sinkevičius is set to lead the Lithuanian government following a reshuffle triggered by the removal of the populist Dawn of Nemunas party from the ruling coalition.
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Social Democrat leader Sinkevičius will lead Lithuania’s government, as the Social Democrats move to exclude the populist Dawn of Nemunas from the governing coalition, while the Democratic Union “For Lithuania” is set to rejoin the alliance after more than eight months in opposition.
“I confirm my commitment to take responsibility for forming the new Government and to serve as Prime Minister,” Sinkevičius said in a Facebook post on 16 June, adding that he was acting “with full awareness of the expectations of the people.”
Sinkevičius – a long-time municipal-level politician from the town of Jonava – is expected to become the third Social Democrat prime minister since the party won the 2024 elections.
He will replace current Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė, who broke the law by taking family members with her on official trips to Italy and the Vatican and faced criticism over handling information about leaked data from the Centre of Registers.
Ruginienė took the cabinet in August last year, after the resignation of Gintautas Paluckas following allegations of unethical financial dealings involving loans, EU funds, and business ties concerning him and his relatives.
The coalition reshuffle happens as Social Democrats kicked out the populist Dawn of Nemunas from the ruling coalition, with the Democrats “For Lithuania” agreeing to return.
In 2024 the Social Democrats formed a ruling coalition with the Dawn of Nemunas and Democrats “For Lithuania” party. The Democrats “For Lithuania” party at the end of August last year stated that they wouldn’t continue in government with Dawn of Nemunas, the populist party led by Remigijus Žemaitaitis, who has been barred from handling classified information and was found guilty of antisemitic statements.
Back then social democrats ditched democrats, replacing them with the Farmers and Greens Union alongside their troublesome partners, the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania–Christian Families Alliance led by Waldemar Tomaszewski.
Social Democrats changing course
“We can see that we are not moving closer to stability in the country, and the party leader [Žemaitaitis] may even be becoming more radical,” Sinkevičius said, explaining the decision.
“We believe that what society needs today is stability, a clear direction, decision-making, and not political noise.”
Remigijus Žemaitaitis, meanwhile, said he had not been given clear reasons for his party’s removal from the coalition.
The Social Democrats, the biggest party in the country’s Seimas parliament, will keep nine ministries: environment, finance, defense, culture, social security, transport, education and sport, foreign affairs and interior. Democrats “For Lithuania” will lead three: health, agriculture and energy. The Farmers and Greens, along with their allies, will keep the economy and justice.
Sinkevičius said changes to the cabinet are expected, but did not provide further details, noting that they would not be “major.”
A new coalition agreement is expected to be signed on 18 June. According to Sinkevičius, this is also when the current Prime Minister, Inga Ruginienė, is expected to step down.
It remains unclear what role Ruginienė will take in the new political setup. Sinkevičius said she would remain “an important member of the team.”
Social Democrat Juozas Olekas is expected to remain Speaker of the Seimas.
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