Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas announced his resignation on Thursday, stepping down as both head of government and chairman of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party.
The move comes ahead of a crucial vote by the party’s executive board and follows a threat from Saulius Skvernelis, speaker of the Seimas and leader of the Democratic Union "For Lithuania," to pull his faction from the coalition if Paluckas remained in office. Under Lithuania's constitution, the prime minister’s departure triggers the resignation of the entire cabinet.
President Gitanas Nauseda welcomed the decision, calling it “the only right choice.” The shift leaves a power vacuum at a critical moment for Lithuania’s coalition government, raising questions about potential early elections and the stability of the ruling alliance.
The resignation comes amid an ethics probe into Paluckas’ financial dealings and alleged inappropriate ties to business interests, including claims of unpaid damages to the Vilnius municipality. Paluckas has denied any wrongdoing, describing the allegations as a “coordinated attack” by political rivals.
As parties scramble to rebuild consensus, the coming days will test Lithuania’s democratic institutions and the resilience of its young coalition. For young global citizens and policy watchers, Paluckas’ departure is a reminder of how ethics, transparency and political alliances intersect on the world stage.
Key takeaways:
- Resignation triggers full cabinet departure.
- Coalition partner threatened to quit if Paluckas stayed.
- High-stakes ethics probe remains unresolved.
Reference(s):
Lithuanian PM resigns following coalition threat and ethics probe
cgtn.com
