VILNIUS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday approved the appointment of Social Democrat Inga Ruginiene, incumbent minister of social security and labor, as Lithuania's new prime minister.
After the parliament's approval, Ruginiene now has up to 15 days to present a new cabinet list agreed with the president to the parliament for a vote.
She will officially take office after the president signs a decree appointing her as the prime minister, and she, together with the new Cabinet, takes the oath in the parliament.
Ruginiene, 44, was elected to parliament for the first time in 2024. Before her political career, she served as chair of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation.
Former Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas stepped down on Aug. 4, triggering the automatic resignation of the entire cabinet.
On Aug. 6, the presidium of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) nominated Ruginiene as the party's candidate for the prime minister.
The LSDP, Nemunas Dawn, the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, and the Christian Families Alliance signed an agreement on Monday to form a new ruling coalition. ■
