Lithuania’s new coalition government has officially been sworn into office. Led by former Economy Minister and acting Mayor of the Jonava district Mindaugas Sinkevičius, the cabinet is supported by the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), the green-conservative Farmers and Greens Union and the centre-left Democrats “For Lithuania”. The political shake-up comes after the senior coalition LSDP moved to expel the populist Dawn of Nemunas over a series of disagreements, replacing the party with the Democrats to maintain a majority in parliament. The new ruling bloc controls 75 of the 141 seats in the Seimas, the country’s unicameral legislature.
The new cabinet will include 14 ministers. Six have kept their positions from the previous government, including those responsible for foreign policy, defence, justice, communications, education and science, as well as economy and innovation. Accordingly, the ministries for interior affairs, finance, social security, health, energy, culture, environment and agriculture were all assigned new leadership. The LSDP will control seven of the 14 ministries, while former Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė will return as Social Security & Labour Minister.
In line with the coalition agreement signed in June and the government program approved by parliament on 14th July, the new cabinet will maintain the overall directions set by the senior coalition LSDP, with a higher focus on defence. The program is focused on 14 main priorities, including external challenges, economic growth, family policy, prices and incomes, education, health, transport, energy, public safety, agriculture, environmental protection, culture, regional policy and local self-government.
The most immediate impact could be a potential end to political instability. The cabinet sworn in on 14th July is the third government installed since the October 2024 parliamentary elections. The reconfiguration of the ruling bloc could offer a fresh start to the centre-left, however the results of the mid-term course adjustment are yet to be seen. And the nearest official check will come in March 2027 during local elections.
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