Mindaugas Sinkevičius, the Social Democratic leader designated to become Lithuania's next prime minister, has said he will announce his ministerial candidates early next week, though the names put forward by one of his coalition partners are expected to emerge sooner.
Sinkevičius told reporters on Wednesday after meeting President Gitanas Nausėda that cabinet formation was not his decision alone. "There is also a political organisation, a party, behind the prime minister. We have democratic processes in place where candidates are discussed and nominated, so it is not just the choice of one person. We haven't completed that yet, but I think we'll do it early next week."
He confirmed that more than three of the 14 cabinet posts would change hands. Three ministerial slots are going to the Democrats "For Lithuania" as part of the coalition agreement, covering agriculture, energy and health, but he indicated further changes beyond those were likely.
Virginijus Sinkevičius, the MEP serving as interim chairman of the Democrats "For Lithuania" and no relation to the prime minister-designate, said on Thursday that he would present his party's ministerial candidates to President Nausėda on Friday morning. He suggested the names were already settled and that no surprises were expected.
