Lithuania: Political developments and data in 2025. A year of protests and government change

Abstract

The year 2025 in Lithuania was marked by political scandals, mass protests, and a change of cabinet. The position of Prime Minister remained in the hands of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, but both the Prime Minister and the composition of the ruling coalition changed. The cabinet formed by Gintautas Paluckas collapsed because of allegations of non-transparent business practices, while the formation of Inga Ruginienė’s new cabinet was likewise accompanied by controversies that escalated into mass protests, largely directed against the coalition partner – the populist Nemuno aušra. Journalists and the newly established Cultural Assembly, which brought together hundreds of cultural institutions, independent artists, and organisations, played a key mobilising role in this protest movement.