Lithuania gets new premier as govt reshuffled
Europe
By
AFP
| Jun 16, 2026
Lithuania's governing coalition named a new prime minister on Tuesday, after a coalition reshuffle that expelled a populist junior partner.
The appointment of Mindaugas Sinkevicius -- the head of the Social Democratic party who briefly served as economy minister -- was confirmed by Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda.
Sinkevicius will replace current prime minister Inga Ruginiene, also a Social Democrat.
The Social Democrats -- who lead the governing coalition -- had announced in early June that they would be ousting populist party Nemunas Dawn, criticising its leader Remigijus Zemaitaitis for "inflammatory statements".
Last year, Zemaitaitis was found guilty by a Vilnius court of inciting hatred against Jews and downplaying the Holocaust.
READ MORE
KECOBO dissolves KAMP board, orders CEO suspension
Fisheries Bill: Fisherfolk bet on Senate to stem overfishing
Coffee weekly auction fetches Sh896 million
Why Nanyuki town is overstretched by influx of investors, visitors
How car tyre shingles could help transform roofing style
Political anxiety casts shadow on Kenya's investment outlook
How Kenya's informal workers hold the key to unlocking the housing market
Greek firm eyes Sh194 billion smart-power system for AI-data centres
CS Kagwe: Why Kenya exports rice despite annual deficit of 1m tonnes
The new centre-left, three-party coalition will still be led by Social Democrats, with the Lithuanian Farmers, Greens and Christian Families Union group and the Democrats "For Lithuania" as minority partners.
It will have 75 seats in the 141-seat parliament.
In their coalition agreement, the three parties pledged to maintain a socially oriented programme, with continued emphasis on defence spending -- a key issue for the ex-Soviet republic that today is a NATO and EU member closely allied to Ukraine.
The three-party coalition must still sign an agreement formalising the new alliance, which will then be approved by the country's president.
Lithuania's governing coalition named a new prime minister on Tuesday, after a coalition reshuffle that expelled a populist junior partner.
The appointment of Mindaugas Sinkevicius -- the head of the Social Democratic party who briefly served as economy minister -- was confirmed by Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda.
Sinkevicius will replace current prime minister Inga Ruginiene, also a Social Democrat.
The Social Democrats -- who lead the governing coalition -- had announced in early June that they would be ousting populist party Nemunas Dawn, criticising its leader Remigijus Zemaitaitis for "inflammatory statements".
Last year, Zemaitaitis was found guilty by a Vilnius court of inciting hatred against Jews and downplaying the Holocaust.
The new centre-left, three-party coalition will still be led by Social Democrats, with the Lithuanian Farmers, Greens and Christian Families Union group and the Democrats "For Lithuania" as minority partners.
It will have 75 seats in the 141-seat parliament.
In their coalition agreement, the three parties pledged to maintain a socially oriented programme, with continued emphasis on defence spending -- a key issue for the ex-Soviet republic that today is a NATO and EU member closely allied to Ukraine.
The three-party coalition must still sign an agreement formalising the new alliance, which will then be approved by the country's president.