New Cabinet approved

  • 2008-12-04

The four leaders of the new ruling coalition have had their plan for a new government approved by the president.

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

The Conservative Party, headed by incoming Prime Minister AndriusKubiliusm, 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

Agriculture Minister -- MPKazimieras Starkevicius