Cabinet reshuffle underway as Lithuania’s ruling party picks new PM nominee

Lithuania’s ruling Social Democratic Party has officially nominated Social Security and Labour Minister Inga Ruginienė as its candidate for prime minister, following the abrupt resignation of outgoing premier Gintautas Paluckas earlier this week.

The decision was confirmed by two party sources, Caliber.Az reports, citing Lithuanian media.

Ruginienė, 44, emerged as the frontrunner after other potential contenders—most notably Transport Minister Eugenijus Sabutis and party chairman Mindaugas Sinkevičius—declined to enter the race. Sabutis reportedly withdrew his candidacy during the party presidium’s internal meeting, clearing the path for Ruginienė’s nomination.

Her selection marks a significant moment in Lithuanian politics, as Ruginienė only entered the Seimas in 2024. Prior to her parliamentary career, she served as chair of the Lithuanian Confederation of Trade Unions, bringing a strong background in labour rights and social policy to her political role.

The nomination comes in the wake of political turbulence triggered by Paluckas' resignation amid mounting scrutiny over his personal and business ties. The controversy intensified after law enforcement conducted a raid on an apartment linked to his brother, prompting Paluckas to step down and the entire government to resign on Monday, as required by constitutional protocol.

With the appointment of a new head of government, a full cabinet reshuffle is now underway, and the coalition agreement binding the ruling parties will need to be renegotiated. The three-party coalition currently holds 86 of the 141 seats in the Seimas, with the Social Democrats leading with 52 seats, followed by Nemunas Dawn with 19 and the Democratic Union “For Lithuania” holding 15.

Notably, the Democrats have signalled potential revisions to the coalition’s composition—possibly at the expense of Nemunas Dawn—though political analysts remain sceptical about the likelihood of significant structural changes within the cabinet or coalition.

As Lithuania navigates this leadership transition, all eyes will be on Ruginienė as she prepares to assume the country’s top executive post, pending formal approval. Her nomination is expected to be submitted to President Gitanas Nausėda for consideration in the coming days.

By Vafa Guliyeva