Lithuania: Finance Minister Heads Interim Government

Lithuania's Finance Minister, Rimantas Šadžius, has been appointed to head the interim government following the resignation of Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas, who was under scrutiny for financial misconduct.

President Gitanas Nausėda appointed Šadžius as acting prime minister until a new government is formed. Paluckas's resignation followed pressure regarding his business ties with a company owned by his sister-in-law.

Nausėda instructed Šadžius to perform the duties of prime minister until a new government is formed. Analysts expect the next prime minister will also come from Paluckas's Social Democratic Party, the largest party in parliament.

Paluckas had been criticized for business transactions in which a company he co-owned sold batteries to his sister-in-law's company, funded by a government agency. He denied any illegal activity, stating that past mistakes hindered the work of his government.