Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruganiene and her cabinet have resigned following changes and disagreements in the ruling coalition.
The government fell after the ruling coalition’s Social Democrats – a center-left party – broke off their agreement with the populist Nemuno Ausra party, while one of its former leaders is facing charges of anti-Semitism.
Former MP Remigijus Zemaitaitis was fined 5,000 euros last year after being found to have incited hatred against Jews, minimized the crimes of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust in an offensive and contemptuous manner in social media posts and statements during May and June 2023.
The case is currently in the appeals court, as prosecutors are seeking a harsher sentence, while Zemaitaitis claims he is innocent, media reports.
The decision to resign has been submitted to President Gitanas Nauseda, who is expected to ask the outgoing government to continue working as an acting government until a new cabinet is formed.
According to the new coalition agreement signed last week, it is expected that the leader of the Social Democratic Party, Mindaugas Sinkevicius, will be nominated as the prime minister-designate to form the government.
At least four ministers are expected to be changed, while the government’s main objectives will remain the same.
The candidate for prime minister, if approved by parliament, will have 14 days to introduce the new government and submit its program for approval. /Telegraph/