The leader of Lithuania’s election-winning Social Democrats, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, confirmed on Wednesday evening that she won’t take up the role of prime minister.
“I don’t have the capacity to be prime minister given my age and health,” said Blinkevičiūtė, who serves as an MEP, at a meeting of the party’s leadership.
“I am convinced that it would be difficult for an almost 65-year-old prime minister to perform her duties, because I am a pensioner and I have really appreciated during the whole election period what a responsible job it would be, how much it would require in terms of health and strength,” she continued, adding that she has no desire to “occupy a position just for the sake of occupying it.”
Prior to Lithuania’s run-off election on Sunday, Blinkevičiūtė had confirmed she was ready to lead the country’s next government. After the election results came in, however — and again on Monday — she avoided answering the question of whether she still wanted to lead the country.
Blinkevičiūtė on Wednesday finally suggested Gintautas Paluckas, a former leader of the Social Democrats, as best suited for the job, calling him “the best candidate with the necessary experience and qualities for a prime minister.”
Speculation that Blinkevičiūtė might pass up the job grew on Tuesday as she discussed the transition with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, local media reported.
Blinkevičiūtė also said she would not take a seat in the Lithuanian parliament, but would instead continue to serve as an MEP in Brussels, where she has been a member of the legislature since 2009.
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