Lithuania has a new prime minister – what do we know about him
Mindaugas Sinkevičius, leader of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, has become prime minister following a coalition agreement. His career includes local government, a brief ministerial stint, legal troubles, and a comeback.
A dramatic political journey
Mindaugas Sinkevičius, the 41-year-old leader of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), has been confirmed as the new prime minister after an agreement between the Social Democrats, the Democrats "For Lithuania", and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union to form a governing majority. Sinkevičius began his political career in Jonava, where he served as mayor from 2011. He briefly served as economy minister in 2016–2017 but resigned when his party left the coalition.
Legal woes and comeback
In 2023, Sinkevičius was charged with causing €1,487 in damages to the Jonava municipality by using council funds for TVs and communication services. He was convicted of abuse of office and document forgery, fined €12,500, and banned from office for three years. However, in March 2025, the Supreme Court terminated the case and overturned the conviction. He immediately returned as mayor and later became party leader.
Ethics violations and Fegda affair
The Chief Official Ethics Commission found a conflict of interest but imposed no real penalty since Sinkevičius already held the highest municipal post. The company Fegda, which built a defective road to the Rūdninkai training ground, drew attention after it emerged that Sinkevičius had worked as its commercial director from November 2024 to March 2025. He denies representing the company's interests before state institutions.
