Lithuania’s parliament voted in favour of Social Democrat Inga Ruginiene’s proposed government
platform on Thursday, making her the Baltic country’s new prime minister.
Ruginiene, a former trade union leader who only entered national politics in 2024, pledged
continuity with the previous pro-Ukraine, pro-defence-spending government, reports Reuters.
The new centre-right coalition was formed after Lithuania’s former government broke down in
July over the then prime minister’s ties to a company owned by a family member.
Ruginiene, 44, has said she will maintain Lithuania’s support for Ukraine as well as pledging to
spend 5-6% of gross domestic product on defence over the next few years.
“My goal is that at the end of my term people feel more secure, due to better defence but also due
to better social care,” she told reporters.
In parliament, 80 of the 141 members backed the new government platform while 40 voted against
it and two abstained. The remaining members were absent. After the sudden resignation of Prime
Minister Gintautas Paluckas’ cabinet in July, Ruginiene reconfigured his coalition and is expected
to control 82 seats in parliament.
