Ruginienė resigns as Lithuanian prime minister

Inga Ruginienė has resigned as Lithuania's prime minister, bringing her Social Democratic-led government to an end after a reshuffle of the ruling coalition, Report informs via LRT.

The outgoing cabinet, Lithuania's 20th government, held its final meeting on Tuesday, at which ministers unanimously approved a resolution on their resignation.

"Despite all the difficulties, we have much to be proud of, and each of you has made a significant contribution to the welfare of our state and the improving lives of our people," Ruginienė told her ministers. "Today we take the decision to resign and return the government's powers to the President of the Republic."

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Ruginienė reflected on her time in office with pride. "In politics you can learn many things – how to look good, how to speak fluently – but you cannot learn courage or humanity," she said. "Empathy, the ability to listen to people, and the courage to act: these are the qualities that helped me not to lose my way among difficult choices and responsibilities."

Ruginienė, who talks with a slight accent, suggested that some people had been unsettled by the fact that she did not fit "the established stereotypical image of what a prime minister should be, how they should speak, how they should behave, how they should look" – but said she had never believed a leader should be "built according to someone else's ready-made template."

She pushed back against any suggestion that she was being sacrificed by her own party, saying the transition was a normal political process.

Ruginienė revealed that Social Democratic leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius had in fact been due to become prime minister last year, when his predecessor Gintautas Paluckas resigned, but that the move had been delayed.

"What is happening now should have happened last year," she said. "I leave today with my head held high and a calm heart."

Under the coalition agreement, the president must submit a candidate for prime minister to parliament within 15 days. Social Democratic leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius is the designated nominee for the role.

Once approved by parliament, the incoming prime minister will have up to a further 15 days to present a cabinet and government programme for parliamentary endorsement.

The new ruling majority comprises the Social Democrats, the Union of Democrats "For Lithuania" and the Lithuanian Farmers, Greens and Christian Families Union, commanding 75 seats in the Seimas, Lithuania's parliament.

At least four ministerial posts will change hands under the coalition agreement: the Democrats will take the agriculture, energy and health portfolios, while the environment ministry will go to the Social Democrats. Ruginienė is expected to return to her former role as minister of social security and labour. Final cabinet lists are still being coordinated with the president.

This is the second time in the current parliamentary term that Lithuania has changed its government mid-term. The first was when Paluckas resigned last year, following investigations in his business dealings and ties, also triggering a full cabinet resignation.