VILNIUS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has appointed Inga Ruginiene, the incumbent minister of social security and labor, as prime minister.
Under a decree signed by the president Tuesday evening, the Social Democrat has 15 days to form a Cabinet and present the government's program to parliament, the Baltic News Service (BNS) reported.
Nauseda issued the decree shortly after lawmakers approved her nomination earlier in the day.
Ruginiene, 44, was elected to parliament in 2024. Before entering politics, she served as chair of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation.
She succeeds former Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas, who resigned on Aug. 4, prompting the automatic resignation of the entire Cabinet. On Aug. 6, the presidium of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) nominated her as its candidate for the top post.
On Monday, the LSDP, Nemunas Dawn, the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, and the Christian Families Alliance signed an agreement to form a new ruling coalition. ■