Lithuanian Prime Minister-designate Gintautas Paluckas confirmed after meeting with President Gitanas Nausėda that he is nominating Kęstutis Budrys, the president’s adviser, as foreign minister, while Social Democrat MP Dovilė Šakalienė is his pick for defence minister.
Paluckas told reporters that Budrys, who is a member of President Nausėda’s team, was his own proposal and not the president’s.
“Of course, this is a name I brought forward. […] Budrys is a true professional in his field, national security,” he told reporters. “Today, in the geopolitical situation we are in, his experience and his cooperation with the president and the Defence Ministry will be a great asset.”
Paluckas added that Nausėda is expected to meet with Budrys and Šakalienė on Friday.
The prime minister-designate confirmed that almost all the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party’s nominees for ministerial positions will be party members.
Paluckas named several of the Social Democratic candidates: MP Raminta Popovienė for education minister, Nerijus Cesiulis for interior minister, Eugenijus Sabutis for transport minister, and Inga Ruginienė for social security and labour minister.
According to BNS sources, the LSDP is proposing Rimantas Šadžius for finance minister and MP Šarūnas Birutis for culture minister. Both have held the respective positions in the past.
The Democrats “For Lithuania” are proposing MP Lukas Savickas for economy minister, and Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, who served as energy minister in Saulius Skvernelis’ 2016–2020 Cabinet, for the same role in the new government.
Paluckas did not publicly name the candidates proposed by the Nemunas Dawn party, another coalition partner, for justice, environment and agriculture ministers, but he said he had discussed all the potential nominees with the president.
“The discussions about these candidates continue, and I want to meet with them personally,” he said.
Paluckas also said that he had named a candidate for health minister to the president but wanted to meet with the nominee before making her name public.
“The candidate is not a member of the (Social Democratic) political group (in the parliament), but she stands out for her expertise, experience, academic work, and innovative approach,” he said.
The prime minister-designate described his meeting with Nausėda as constructive.
“We share the same goals, which is the smooth functioning of the government,” Paluckas said.
“We also discussed ministerial candidates and potential teams to support them, such as vice-ministers or sector-specific expertise needed,” he added.
Paluckas said that he had not received any indications from Nausėda that any of the proposed candidates might be rejected.
Earlier on Thursday, the parliament voted to approve Paluckas as the next prime minister. He will have 15 days to form his cabinet after the president formally appoints him to the position.
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