Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda on Thursday submitted to the parliament the nomination of Social Democrat Inga Ruginienė as prime minister, following last week’s resignation of Gintautas Paluckas’ government.
The Presidential Office confirmed the nomination, which now goes to the parliament, Seimas, for approval. Juozas Olekas, the first deputy speaker of the parliament, told BNS the Seimas Board is expected to decide Monday when to call an extraordinary session to vote on the appointment.
Once confirmed, Ruginienė will have up to 15 days to present a cabinet and government programme agreed with the president. The programme must also win parliamentary approval.
Nausėda told LRT TV that the information available so far gives reason to believe Ruginienė will “successfully do the job” as prime minister, though her background requires “more attention”. He said their first meeting lasted two hours – unusually long – and that in some areas, such as parts of her personal history, he had to rely on her answers.
Ruginienė has faced public questions about relatives in Russia, visits to the country, her husband’s business interests, and her forestry degree, which she completed in one year. Nausėda met with her twice before forwarding her nomination to the Seimas.
The Social Democrats have been in coalition negotiations since Paluckas stepped down. Earlier this week, party representatives met with their current partners – the Democrats “For Lithuania” and the Nemunas Dawn party – but the Democrats have since said they can no longer work with Nemunas Dawn.
The Social Democrats are also considering inviting the opposition Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union into a new coalition.
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