For the Minister of Education, Science, and Sports position, the Social Democrat Raminta Popovienė has been nominated. Alytus Mayor Nerijus Cesiulis is proposed as the Minister of the Interior. Eugenijus Sabutis aims to become the Minister of Transport, while Inga Ruginienė is set to be nominated as the Minister of Social Security and Labor.
The Democratic candidates are Lukas Savickas, nominated as Minister of Economy and Innovation, and Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, nominated as Minister of Energy.
The Social Democrat Dovilė Šakalienė is nominated for Minister of National Defence, and Kęstutis Budrys, Adviser to the President, is nominated for Minister of Foreign Affairs. Nausėda intends to meet and talk with these two candidates on Friday.
„Tomorrow, the President will probably meet with the Foreign Affairs and National Defence Ministers candidates,“ Paluckas said.
When asked whether he or Nausėda had proposed Budrys's candidacy, the Prime Minister assured that he had put the name on the President's desk.
„Of course, it is the name that I brought. Several names were discussed from the President's circle, but Budrys is a professional in his field – national security – and has a considerable international network.
„In today's geopolitical situation, his experience and cooperation with both the President and the Ministry of National Defence will be a great asset to the Prime Minister and the entire Cabinet of Ministers,“ he said.
Paluckas did not want to name the ministerial candidates proposed by Nemuno Aušra yet, but he intends to meet them himself first.
„Although the names are given, I myself want to meet them personally. Tomorrow, I will first have a live meeting with them. We will discuss and see, and then they will be officially named or not,“ the Prime Minister noted.
According to him, the names of the candidates brought by Remigijus Žemaitaitis, which have already appeared in the media, do not fully correspond to reality.
„The media apparently did not get all the names right, but they will only be commented on when I am convinced that these people will be able to perform their duties properly,“ Paluckas said.
The media has mentioned that Virginijus Kulikauskas, the former Director of the Lithuanian Prison Service, could be nominated as Minister of Justice. Tomas Ambroza, who indicated that he had declined the opportunity, was mentioned as a candidate for Minister of Agriculture.
At the same time, Giedrius Giparas, former Head of the Geological Survey, was considered for Minister of the Environment.
According to the Prime Minister, the Social Democrats' ministerial candidates are „practically all“ party members.
Earlier, it was announced that the Social Democrats would nominate the former Head of Antakalnis Polyclinic, Evaldas Navickas, for the post of Minister of Health. Still, it was reported that Navickas eventually decided not to take up the position. Paluckas already has a new candidate.
„That personality will be revealed very soon; apparently, there is no need to speculate too much. She is not a member of the group. However, competence, experience, scientific activity, and innovation are the qualities of this candidate.
I still want to have one more meeting to discuss my expectations and hear some thoughts on team building. That is also very important. You cannot be a jack of all trades.
Accordingly, once a decision has been taken, it should be formally submitted to the President,“ said Paluckas.
On Thursday, Paluckas officially became the new Prime Minister. Eighty-eight members of the Seimas voted in favour of his nomination, 34 against it, and six abstained.
Among the abstentions were Peasants such as Ignas Vėgėlė, Rimas Jonas Jankūnas, Ligita Girskienė, Aušrinė Norkienė and Bronis Ropė from the Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union group. At the same time, Valius Ąžuolas, Eimantas Kirkutis and Dainius Gaižauskas did not take part in the vote.
The members of the Union of Lithuanian Poles' Electoral Action-Christian Families did not express their support for the candidacy of Paluckas, who did not take part in the vote.
Vytautas Sinica, a member of the National Alliance, and Martynas Katelynas, a Social Democrat, also decided not to take part in the vote on Mr Paluckas.
