G.Nausėda approved the composition of the Government of I.Šimonytė

This was announced by the head of state at a press conference.

“I approved the newly formed cabinet of ministers of the Republic of Lithuania, headed by Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė. This cabinet is starting its work at a really difficult time for Lithuania and, perhaps, the first and most important task will be to overcome the pandemic crisis we are currently experiencing, make very decisive and quick decisions that yield immediate results, ”said G. Nausėda .

The new government includes nine ministers appointed by the Lithuanian Christian National-Democratic Union, three by the Freedom Party and two by the Liberal Movement.

The Ministry of Finance will be headed by Gintarė Skaistė, National Defense – Arvydas Anušauskas, Home Affairs – Agnė Bilotaitė, Health – Arūnas Dulkys, Foreign Affairs – Gabrielius Landsbergis, Social Security and Labor – Monika Navickienė, Education, Science and Sports – Jurgita Šiugždinienė , Energy – Dainius Kreivys, Agriculture – Kęstutis Navickas, Economy and innovation – Aušrinė Armonaitė, Justice – Evelina Dobrovolska, Transport – Marius Skuodis, Environmental protection – Simonas Gentvilas, Culture – Simonas Kairys.

G. Nausėda also said that the new government’s program is ambitious.

“It is really ambitious, it responds to the objectives of the welfare state. There have been many discussions with the ministerial candidates, I can firmly say that in many cases the provisions, objectives and strategies coincide, so I hope to continue close cooperation, ”said G. Nausėda.

I. Šimonytė hopes that the deliberations on the Government’s program in parliament will not take long and that the new Cabinet of Ministers will be given the authority to work soon.

“Time is probably the deciding factor in this case, given that there is a COVID situation. State and other budgets for next year also need to be passed so that we can start next year smoothly. There will really be little time for the Government to make these decisions, ”emphasized the Prime Minister.

Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania / Photo by R. Dačkus / Meeting of the President with Prime Minister-designate Ingrida Šimonyte

G. Nausėda says that all ministries will be important, but their areas of education, culture, economic welfare and social justice will receive the most attention.

He stressed that the approved ministers met his requirements in terms of experience, qualifications and “decency and reputation”.

The president also praised the government’s ambition to improve the state of the education system “not primarily through cosmetic means, but through solutions that are very clear and understandable to the public and to reach a national agreement.”

Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania / Photo by R. Dačkus / Meeting of the President with Prime Minister-designate Ingrida Šimonyte

“This is also repeatedly mentioned as our priority, because we are talking about things that will be important for the future of Lithuania for many years to come. Therefore, I really look forward to working closely with the heads of specific ministries.” “Our first meetings with the candidates were really very constructive and commercial,” added the president.

The government will begin its work when the Seimas approves its program and the ministers are sworn in.