Lithuanian government resigns following PM Paluckas’ decision to step down

Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas is stepping down from his post on Monday, prompting the resignation of the entire cabinet in accordance with the country’s constitution, Report informs via LRT.

An extraordinary government meeting was called on Monday morning, where Paluckas confirmed his decision.

"Having made the decision to resign as prime minister, I announce that the 19th Government of Lithuania is resigning,” Paluckas said at the start of the meeting.

“It may sound dramatic, but I’m stepping down – you will continue your work in an acting capacity until the new prime minister decides what changes will be made,” he added.

Paluckas said he would submit his formal resignation to President Gitanas Nausėda later Monday. He also thanked the ministers for their cooperation during his tenure.

“It was truly an honor. The 19th Government has accomplished a great deal, and I believe we have nothing to be ashamed of. Thank you all,” he said.

Paluckas decided to resign after a series of embarrassing investigative reports into his past and present business dealings and law enforcement launched two pretrial investigations, raising increasing scrutiny over his past conduct.

Under the Lithuanian constitution, the resignation of the prime minister requires the resignation of the entire cabinet. According to the Law on the Government, the president must be notified of the decision on the same day.

President Nausėda will now need to sign a decree formally accepting the government’s resignation and tasking it with continuing in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed. He must also appoint an interim prime minister.

From this point, Nausėda has up to 15 days to propose a candidate for prime minister to the parliament, Seimas. The new prime minister will be nominated by the Social Democratic Party, which holds the largest faction in parliament, and is expected to decide on a nominee during a party presidium meeting on Wednesday.

Once approved by the Seimas, the new prime minister will have 15 days to present a cabinet and government program, coordinated with the president, for parliamentary approval.

As the new government is formed, revisions are expected to the current three-party coalition agreement, which explicitly names Paluckas as the coalition’s prime ministerial leader. The Social Democrats formed the governing coalition last year with the Nemunas Dawn party (19 MPs) and the Democrats “For Lithuania” (15 MPs), creating a ruling bloc of 86 seats in the 141-member Seimas.

Democrats have indicated they may demand changes to the coalition lineup, possibly excluding Nemunas Dawn.

Last week, after law enforcement raided the apartment of Paluckas’ brother, the prime minister announced he would step down from both the premiership and leadership of the Social Democratic Party.

Jonava Mayor Mindaugas Sinkevičius has temporarily taken over party leadership and is among those under consideration for the prime minister’s role. Other potential candidates reportedly include Minister of Social Security and Labour Inga Ruginienė, First Deputy Speaker of the Seimas Juozas Olekas, and Vilnius District Mayor Robert Duchnevič. The party has also asked its regional branches to submit suggestions for the position.

The Social Democrats currently hold 52 seats in the Seimas.