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Lithuanian Politician Backs New PM Candidate, Acknowledges Coalition Restructuring
🇱🇹 Lithuania /Elections & Politics

Lithuanian Politician Backs New PM Candidate, Acknowledges Coalition Restructuring

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Lithuanian politician J. Olekas expressed confidence that the new Prime Minister candidate, M. Sinkevičius, will be more effective than the previous one, I. Ruginienė.
  • Olekas acknowledged President Gitanas Nausėda's remarks about the coalition's late restructuring, stating that "better late than never" and that the government is addressing the president's concerns.
  • The ruling Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) decided to replace Ruginienė, aiming for a stronger, more unified coalition position and leadership, with new coalition partners and ministry assignments expected soon.

Lithuanian politician J. Olekas is backing the new Prime Minister candidate, M. Sinkevičius, expressing strong hopes that he will prove a more capable leader than his predecessor, I. Ruginienė. "I am keeping my fingers crossed that he will indeed be better and I believe he is ready for this job. And I wish him all the best of luck," Olekas told journalists at the Seimas.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that he will indeed be better and I believe he is ready for this job. And I wish him all the best of luck.

— J. OlekasSpeaking to journalists about the new Prime Minister candidate.

Olekas suggested that the decision to replace Ruginienė stemmed from a desire for a "firmer, more unified common coalition position and perhaps stronger leadership." He also addressed President Gitanas Nausėda's observation that the ruling coalition had been reformed too late. Olekas responded, "Perhaps it could have been earlier, perhaps later, but it is as it is now. We hear what the president says and we are doing the work that I think is necessary for Lithuania and that the president emphasized in his annual address."

Perhaps it could have been earlier, perhaps later, but it is as it is now. We hear what the president says and we are doing the work that I think is necessary for Lithuania and that the president emphasized in his annual address.

— J. OlekasResponding to President Gitanas Nausėda's comments on the coalition's restructuring timeline.

The ruling LSDP council decided in early June to alter the governing majority formed last summer, expelling the "Nemuno aušra" faction and initiating consultations with the "Vardan Lietuvos" Democrats. Leaders and negotiators from the parties that began coalition talks last week agreed on ministry assignments on Monday. The "Vardan Lietuvos" Democrats, invited into the coalition, have been assigned the Ministries of Agriculture, Energy, and Health in the newly formed government. The ruling LSDP will continue to lead nine ministries, while the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union faction retains oversight of two ministries. The coalition agreement is expected to be signed this week, committing to the implementation of the XXI Government program approved by the Seimas.

firmer, more unified common coalition position and perhaps stronger leadership.

— J. OlekasExplaining the reasons behind the decision to replace the previous Prime Minister.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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