Lithuanian Prime Minister's resignation won't affect security and defense, claims the expert
In a dramatic turn of events, Lithuania's Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas has tendered his resignation, following an ongoing investigation into potential financial crimes linked to firms associated with him. This development comes after President Gitanas Nauseda gave Paluckas two weeks to address the corruption allegations or step down.
The country's authorities have launched an investigation into these allegations, which is currently underway. The investigation was triggered by reports from investigative journalists, who first revealed cases of alleged corruption involving Paluckas, some of which are now also under investigation.
Paluckas, who has been prime minister since last year, leading the Social Democrats in a ruling coalition with the populist Nemunas Dawn party and the center-left "For Lithuania", has stated that he will continue to defend his honor and dignity and is waiting for the conclusions of the investigations.
As the largest faction in parliament, the Social Democrats are now tasked with nominating a permanent prime minister, expected to be Inga Ruginienė. Finance Minister Rimantas Šadžius has been appointed interim prime minister during this transition period. Once parliament approves the nominee, the new prime minister will have 15 days to present a new cabinet and a government program for parliamentary approval.
The coalition agreement from the previous government, which included the Democrats "For Lithuania" party and Nemunas Dawn, has become unstable. After Paluckas’s resignation, some junior coalition members, particularly from Democrats "For Lithuania," have indicated they may seek to alter the coalition’s composition, possibly excluding Nemunas Dawn, given the controversies surrounding that party.
The new cabinet’s composition will likely change partially or fully, influenced by the president's prerogative and coalition negotiations. The president’s role includes approving the prime minister candidate and agreeing on the cabinet composition, suggesting potential ministerial replacements aligned with the new coalition agreements and political considerations.
Maris Andzans, associate professor at Riga Stradins University and director of the Center for Geopolitical Studies, believes that no major changes are foreseeable in Lithuania's attitude towards Russia and Belarus and the war in Ukraine.
The next Lithuanian coalition is expected to be formed by the Social Democratic Party (LSDP), Nemunas Dawn, and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS). This coalition choice follows negotiations after the resignation of Prime Minister Paluckas, with the Social Democrats narrowing their options to these partners to secure parliamentary support for the new prime minister-designate, Inga Ruginienė.
These developments follow Paluckas’s resignation amid scandal and political pressures, requiring the Social Democrats to rebuild a stable government capable of maintaining parliamentary support. The fate of the current coalition partners remains uncertain, with speculation about possible exclusion of Democrats "For Lithuania" and/or Nemunas Dawn due to internal tensions and presidential preferences.
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