Lithuania’s parliament has approved the government programme presented by Social Democrat Mindaugas Sinkevicius, paving the way for him to become Prime Minister and for his proposed cabinet to assume office.
The Baltic nation, a member of both NATO and the European Union that shares borders with Russia and Belarus, remains NATO’s highest defence spender relative to the size of its economy. It is expected to allocate about 5.33% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to defence this year.
Sinkevicius’ policy programme commits to maintaining defence spending above 5% of GDP, securing the continued presence of U.S. troops in Lithuania as a key deterrent against Russia, and sustaining support for Ukraine.
“It would be a mistake to believe that Russian military threat is subsiding due to the large losses it is now taking”, Sinkevicius told parliament on Tuesday, referring to Moscow’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
He succeeds fellow Social Democrat Inga Ruginiene, who has served as prime minister since last year and is stepping down to allow the party leader to take office following recent instability within her coalition government.
The incoming centre-left coalition, made up of the Social Democrats, For Lithuania and the Farmers and Green Union parties, holds a narrow parliamentary majority.
The populist Nemunas Dawn party, whose leader is facing charges of inciting hatred against Jews and belittling the Holocaust, has been excluded from the new government.
Lawmakers voted 72-29 in favour of the government’s programme, with four abstentions. The remaining members of the 141-seat parliament were absent.
Lithuania’s next parliamentary election is scheduled for October 2028.
Reuters
