New Lithuanian Cabinet approved

2008-12-04
TBT Staff in cooperation with BNS

NEW COALITION: From Left to Right: Arturas Zuokas of the Liberal and Center Union, Arunas Valinskas of the Ressurection Party, Andrius Kubilius of the Homeland Union - Christian Democrats, Gintaras StepanaviÄius of the Liberal Movement. The four leaders will head Lithuania's new ruling coalition.

VILNIUS - Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus has signed a document giving his official approval to the new Cabinet, which will make up the country's 15th government.

The Conservative Party, headed by incoming Prime Minister Andrius Kubiliusm, secured seven ministerial posts, the most among coalitionpartners. The partywill head the Finance, Economy, the yet-to-be-created Energy Ministry, also theForeign, Defense, Social Security and Agriculture Ministries.

The National Resurrection party received the parliamentary speaker'spost, as well as the Environment and Culture Ministries. The Liberal andCenter Union, meanwhile, will run the Interior and Health Ministries. The LiberalMovement is to get the posts of justice, education and science and communicationsministers.

The Cabinet will be made up of the following players:

Environment Minister -- Director of construction company Merko Statyba Gediminas Kazlauskas

Finance Minister -- incumbent Director ofthe Statistics Department under the Lithuanian Government Algirdas Semeta

Defense Minister -- MP Rasa Jukneviciene

Culture Minister -- actor Remigijus Vilkaitis

Social Security and Labor Minister -- MP Rimantas Dagys

Communications and Transport Minister -- Chairman of the Liberal Movement MP Eligijus Masiulis

Health Minister -- MP Algis Caplikas

Education and Science Minister -- MP Gintautas Steponavicius

Justice Minister -- Director of the Free Market Institute Remigijus Simasius

Interior Minister -- Liberal and Center Union member Raimundas Palaitis

Foreign Minister -- career diplomat Vygaudas Usackas