President Gitanas Nausėda has urged the leader of the Social Democratic Party to declare his intentions on the premiership and pressed all coalition parties to conclude negotiations swiftly, while also defending the foreign minister against calls for his removal.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Nausėda called on Social Democratic leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius to be clear about whether he intends to become prime minister.
"I would like the leader of the Social Democratic Party, Mindaugas Sinkevičius, having said A, to clearly say B. I see a desire to take on the leadership that Lithuania needs in the executive branch today," the president said," the president said.
Sinkevičius's public comments in recent weeks have fuelled speculation that he may seek the premiership himself rather than backing incumbent Inga Ruginienė, though he has yet to confirm this.
Coalition negotiations began after the Social Democrats decided to exclude the Nemunas Dawn party from the ruling coalition and instead seek to form a majority with the Democratic Union "For Lithuania" and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union. They are expected to conclude next week.
