Lithuania's Social Democrats have agreed on a new governing coalition that will bring an opposition party into government and lead to a change in prime minister, the parties involved announced on Thursday.
As part of the coalition reshuffle, the party of Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė plans to bring the center-left Democratic Union "For Lithuania" into the government of the Baltic EU and NATO member state.
The agreement was signed by the two parties along with the coalition's other partners, the Union of Farmers and Greens and the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania-Christian Families Alliance.
The new coalition will control 75 of the 141 seats in parliament.
The reshuffle is also expected to result in personnel changes at the top of government.
Social Democratic Party leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius is set to replace fellow party member Ruginienė as prime minister.
Ruginienė took office only in August 2025 following the resignation of Gintautas Paluckas over a corruption scandal.
According to Lithuanian media reports, the current government is expected to resign on June 23.
Under Lithuania's constitutional procedures, President Gitanas Nausėda must formally nominate Sinkevicius for the post of prime minister, after which his candidacy must be approved by parliament.
If confirmed, he will then form a Cabinet, which must also win parliamentary approval.
The Social Democrats ended their cooperation with the populist Dawn of Nemunas party in mid-June.
The party's participation in government had long been controversial in Lithuania and had also drawn criticism internationally.
Dawn of Nemunas emerged as the third-largest force in the 2024 parliamentary election and remained part of the coalition despite public protests and an earlier government reshuffle.
