Lithuanian government resigns

Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas is stepping down from his post Monday, prompting the resignation of the entire cabinet in accordance with the country’s constitution, the Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reported. 

An extraordinary government meeting was called Monday morning, where Paluckas confirmed his decision, according to LRT. 

"Having made the decision to resign as prime minister, I announce that the 19th Government of Lithuania is resigning,” Paluckas said at the start of the meeting, according to LRT.

“It may sound dramatic, but I’m stepping down – you will continue your work in an acting capacity until the new prime minister decides what changes will be made,” he added, according to LRT.

Paluckas said he would submit his formal resignation to President Gitanas Nausėda later Monday. He also thanked the ministers for their cooperation during his tenure.

Paluckas decided to resign after a series of investigative reports into his past and present business dealings and law enforcement launched two pretrial investigations, raising increasing scrutiny over his past conduct.

Under the Lithuanian constitution, the resignation of the prime minister requires the resignation of the entire cabinet. According to the Law on the Government, the president must be notified of the decision on the same day.

President Nausėda will now need to sign a decree formally accepting the government’s resignation and tasking it with continuing in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed. He must also appoint an interim prime minister.

From this point, Nausėda has up to 15 days to propose a candidate for prime minister to the parliament, Seimas. The new prime minister will be nominated by the Social Democratic Party, which holds the largest faction in parliament