Vilnius, June 23: Inga Ruginienė has resigned from her position as Prime Minister of Lithuania after serving for over nine months. Local media reported that the outgoing cabinet held its final meeting on Tuesday, where ministers unanimously approved the proposal for their resignations.
During the meeting, Ruginienė stated, “Despite all the challenges, we have much to be proud of, and each of you has significantly contributed to the welfare of our state and the improvement of our people’s lives.”
She added, “Today, we decide to resign and return the power of the government to the President of the Republic.”
Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT) reported that after the meeting, Ruginienė discussed her tenure with the media. She remarked, “In politics, you can learn many things, like how to appear good and speak fluently, but you cannot learn courage or humanity.” She emphasized that empathy, the ability to listen to people, and the courage to act were qualities that helped her navigate difficult decisions and responsibilities.
Ruginienė noted that some were troubled by her failure to conform to the “stereotypical image” of what a Prime Minister should be. However, she expressed that she never believed a leader should be molded according to someone else’s ready-made template.
According to LRT, Ruginienė dismissed claims that her own party had sacrificed her, stating that this change is a normal political process.
The resignation proposal will be presented to President Gitanas Nausėda on Tuesday. Nausėda is expected to ask the current cabinet to continue in a caretaker role until a new government is formed. Under the coalition agreement, the president must propose a candidate for Prime Minister to the Parliament within 15 days. Mindaugas Sinkevičius, the leader of the Social Democrats, has been nominated for the position.
Once approved by Parliament, the incoming Prime Minister will have an additional 15 days to present a cabinet and government program for parliamentary approval. The new government will include various parties, such as the Union of Democrats “For Lithuania,” Social Democrats, and the Lithuanian Farmers, Greens, and Christian Families Union.
The coalition agreement stipulates that there will be leadership changes in at least four ministerial portfolios—Democrats will take on agriculture, energy, and health, while the Social Democrats will oversee the Ministry of Environment. Ruginienė is expected to assume the role of Minister of Social Security and Labor in the new cabinet.
Before taking office as Prime Minister in September 2025, Inga Ruginienė served as the Minister of Social Security and Labor in the 19th government. She has leadership experience, including roles as President of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation, Vice President of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Vice President of the International Trade Union Confederation – European Region (ITUC-PERC), and Chairperson of the Lithuanian Federation of Trade Unions of the Forest and Forest Industry. She has been a member of the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) since 2024.
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