Lithuania PM Ruginienė resigns, cabinet to be reshuffled

Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė and her cabinet resigned on Tuesday, concluding a ten-month tenure marked by political turbulence. Ruginienė stated that the resignation is part of a normal political process and that her successor, Mindaugas Sinkevičius, was expected to take over sooner.

Ruginienė's premiership faced several crises, including security incidents and ministerial dismissals. She is expected to return to government as the social affairs minister once a new cabinet is formed and approved. President Gitanas Nausėda is set to submit Sinkevičius' nomination to parliament on Thursday.

The new coalition government will be led by the Social Democrats, who will retain nine ministries. Democrats “For Lithuania” will lead three ministries, and the Farmers and Greens will manage the economy and justice portfolios. The populist Dawn of Nemunas party has been removed from the ruling coalition, while Democrats “For Lithuania” will rejoin it.

Speculation surrounds the future of Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, who faces the task of normalizing relations with China. The government's reshuffle occurs as Lithuania aligns with other EU countries advocating for broader use of tariffs against China's trade practices.