Lithuania's three incoming coalition parties have finalised the text of their coalition agreement, with ministerial portfolios expected to be settled on Monday evening and the identity of the next prime minister likely to be confirmed on Tuesday.
The coalition, comprising the Social Democrats led by Mindaugas Sinkevičius, the Democratic Union "For Lithuania" led by Virginijus Sinkevičius, and the Lithuanian Farmers, Greens and Christian Families Union, will hold 75 seats in the Seimas. The Social Democrats had earlier dropped the populist Nemunas Dawn party and invited the Democrats in their place.
Virginijus Sinkevičius said on Monday morning that the text was complete and would be submitted to each party's governing bodies for approval. The agreement does not yet name a prime minister, though he said he already knew Mindaugas Sinkevičius' decision.
"I will leave space for the Social Democrats, for Mindaugas himself, to announce that final decision," he said.
The Social Democratic council is expected to meet on Tuesday to deliberate on the matter. Speculation has been building for weeks over whether Mindaugas Sinkevičius will take the premiership himself or continue to back incumbent Inga Ruginienė. President Gitanas Nausėda on Sunday publicly urged him to make his intentions clear.
