Lithuania’s Prime Minister-designate Mindaugas Sinkevičius said Tuesday that growing social polarisation poses the greatest threat to the state and democracy as he presented his government’s program to the parliament, Seimas.
Sinkevičius said internal divisions weaken the state’s ability to respond to external threats amid heightened geopolitical tensions. He called on political forces to work together to reduce social polarisation, stressing that democracy must allow room for different views and public debate.
A significant part of his speech focused on demographic challenges, which Sinkevičius described as one of the biggest issues facing Lithuania and Europe. The government plans to overhaul the family support system, ensure access to kindergarten places, introduce free meals for primary school students, increase funding for nonformal education and expand support for first-time homebuyers.
In the economic sector, the government program pledges to ease the impact of rising prices by increasing household incomes, reviewing the public-sector wage system, strengthening price monitoring and improving transparency in electricity pricing. The plans also include raising pensions and strengthening the social security system.
In health care, the government program will aim to reduce waiting times at medical facilities, strengthen regional health care and increase wages for nurses and nursing assistants.
On defence, the program calls for ensuring funding that meets the needs of the armed forces, strengthening air defence and protection against unmanned aerial vehicles, and continuing the development of the Baltic Defence Line.
The Seimas is scheduled to approve the government program on July 14.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
