Lithuania’s parliament on Tuesday confirmed Inga Ruginienė as prime minister following the collapse of the previous government in July over a corruption scandal.
The 44-year-old former social security minister has vowed to continue supporting Ukraine and invest in the country’s defence.
“My biggest dream is to stand in front of you again at the end of my mandate and to say that we have been able to accomplish very important work,” Ruginienė said.
However, several thousand people staged a demonstration against the new government, with organisers accusing it of including politicians who oppose sanctions against Russia and Belarus, as well as anti-vaccine campaigners.
The current coalition, led by the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), includes the populist Nemunas Dawn party, the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania-Christian Families, and independent lawmakers.
Ruginienė now has 15 days to put her cabinet and government programme to a vote.
