Lithuania’s parliament Tuesday approved Inga Ruginienė — a longtime trade unionist and political newcomer — as prime minister, following the resignation of Gintautas Paluckas amid allegations about his financial dealings.
Ruginienė, 44, now has 15 days to submit the government’s program — which will be focused on security, economic growth and social welfare, and will likely look similar to the previous program — to the parliament.
Social Democrat Ruginienė entered politics last year, taking the social security and labor portfolio in the government. Until then, her career was rooted in the trade union movement: she served in senior positions in both Lithuanian and European union organizations.
The Lithuanian opposition has been critical about Ruginienė’s ability to lead.
“It is impossible not to notice the candidate’s striking lack of political experience,” leader of the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats, Laurynas Kasčiūnas, said ahead of the vote.
Ruginienė told lawmakers: “My biggest dream is that at the end of my term, I can once again stand before you and say that together we were able to accomplish very, very important work.”
She stands with Ukraine and has condemned Russia’s aggression in the past, though was questioned over visits to Russia after its annexation of Crimea. Ruginienė said she has family roots in both Ukraine and Russia.
Ruginienė’s lack of political experience did not stop the Social Democrats from putting her forward, especially after two contenders — Deputy Speaker of the parliament Juozas Olekas and Transport Minister Eugenijus Sabutis — withdrew from the race at a late stage.
The reasons for the dual withdrawal were never disclosed, though President Gitanas Nausėda had warned, on the day of Paluckas’ resignation, that any future nominee would have to be carefully vetted to avoid “another situation like this,” to prevent instability.
That warning soon looked prescient. Days after stepping back from PM contention, Sabutis came under investigation from the Special Investigation Service for allegedly abusing his office and forging 18 documents while serving on a district council.
Olekas, meanwhile, will become the new speaker of the parliament.
The post Trade union veteran becomes new Lithuanian PM appeared first on Politico.
