VILNIUS (Lithuania)– The Seimas, taking into account the decree of the President of the Republic Gitanas Nausėda, approved the candidacy of Inga Ruginienė, a representative of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, for the position of Prime Minister, submitted by the head of state.
For this purpose, the Seimas resolution (draft No.XVP-681 ) 78 members of the Seimas voted in favor, 35 against, and 14 parliamentarians abstained.
During the presentation, the President of the Republic stated that he believed that the Government formed by I. Ruginienė would follow the path of Western, socially just decisions, would respond to people’s trust in state institutions and would constructively solve their problems, and noted that the candidate’s experience, gained while leading trade unions and representing the interests of employees in the Tripartite Council, allowed her to reveal herself as the head of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour and a constructive and compromise-seeking negotiator, helping to implement such a complex reform as the changes to the II pension pillar in a short time. “I hope that the same principles of seeking compromise and concentration, as well as the desire to reduce exclusion in society, will remain the axis of Prime Minister I. Ruginienė’s activities,” said G. Nausėda.
Introducing herself to the members of the Seimas, I. Ruginienė emphasized that it is important not only to ensure the smooth functioning of state institutions, but also to strive to create a state in which citizens trust, and the state trusts its citizens. According to the candidate, the Government led by her would pay the greatest attention to security, economic growth and social welfare: “It is important to ensure the security of airspace so that provocations do not become a pretext to divide society and undermine confidence in our defense capabilities. Lithuania’s security is inseparable from assistance to Ukraine and its victory. This does not change and will not change.”
- Ruginienė named the adoption of a balanced budget as one of the most important tasks of the Seimas’ autumn session: “The state’s fiscal capacity has increased significantly, which provides freedom of maneuver in 2026. We will continue to strive to maintain sustainable public finances in the budget.”
The parliamentary groups of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), Nemunas Aušra, and the Lithuanian Peasants and Green-Christian Families Union expressed their support for I. Ruginienė’s candidacy.
“In the opinion of the Social Democratic faction, I. Ruginienė is responsibly prepared to lead the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Her past activities and the work she has done while working as the Minister of Social Security and Labour, as well as the specific plans she has set, the goals she has set and the measured ambitions she has when presenting the goals of the future Government’s programme, demonstrate that she is a suitable candidate,” said Remigijus Motuzas, the leader of the largest ruling faction, the LSDP.
The opposition factions announced that they would vote against: the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats faction, the Democrats faction “For the Sake of Lithuania” and the Liberal Movement faction.
“The Fatherland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats faction cannot support I. Ruginienė’s candidacy for Prime Minister and will vote against it. We will remain a principled but constructive opposition that will not only control the activities of the Government, but also offer alternatives,” noted Laurynas Kasčiūnas, a representative of the largest opposition faction.
Upon approval of the candidacy, the new Prime Minister must, no later than 15 days from her appointment, present to the Seimas the Government she has formed and approved by the President of the Republic, and submit the program of this Government for consideration.
The Constitution of the Republic establishes that the Prime Minister is appointed and dismissed by the President of the Republic with the approval of the Seimas.
Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday approved the newly formed ruling coalition’s candidate Inga Ruginienė for the position of prime minister.
https://parliamentjournal.com/2025/07/23/yulia-svyrydenko-appointed-ukraines-first-female-wartime-prime-minister/