Lithuania’s Social Democratic Party on Friday elected Mindaugas Sinkevičius as its chairman during a party congress.
Sinkevičius, the only candidate, received 503 votes from 535 participants. Nerijus Cesiulis, who had been nominated by one party branch, withdrew from the race before the vote.
In his address, Sinkevičius thanked party members for their support and emphasised continuity as well as responsibility for the country’s welfare.
Vilnius District Mayor Robertas Duchnevičius was appointed first deputy chairman. Other deputies include Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė, parliamentary group leader Orinta Leiputė, as well as several ministers, lawmakers and municipal leaders.
Sinkevičius will lead the party until 2029. The party extended the chairman’s term from two to four years during the congress, which marked its 130th anniversary.
He said the party should focus less on internal political debates and more on public concerns such as prices, the cost of living, social inequality and employment. He added that voters expect concrete solutions to everyday challenges rather than political disputes.
Sinkevičius was nominated for the leadership by most party branches and has led the party since last year following the resignation of Gintautas Paluckas.
He was previously convicted in a case involving the misuse of municipal funds and temporarily lost his position as mayor of Jonava. However, the Supreme Court of Lithuania later dismissed the case, allowing him to return to office and active politics.
The party also plans to appoint former leader and European Parliament member Vilija Blinkevičiūtė as honorary chair, Sinkevičius said, describing her as “inseparable from modern Lithuanian social democracy”.
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