Vilija Blinkeviciute, leader of the victorious Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) in last month’s general elections, has announced she will not serve as prime minister.

The 64-year-old member of the European Parliament (MEP) shared her decision at a party leadership meeting on October 30, recommending former LSDP leader Gintautas Paluckas as the best candidate for the role, LRT.lt, the website of Lithuania’s national broadcaster LRT, reported on October 31.

The 45-year-old Paluckas was leader of the party from 2017-21, when he resigned in a dispute over its co-operation with the Farmers and Greens party. He is also controversial because of his conviction in 2010 for involvement in a non-transparent procurement tender while deputy mayor of the capital Vilnius.

Blinkeviciute’s decision is a turnaround from her previous pledge to become premier, despite persistent rumours she would step aside.

In this month's parliamentary elections, the LSDP scored a famous victory, winning 52 out of 141 seats, its biggest tally this millennium, and some four times its previous representation.

Part of the credit for the victory goes to the charismatic Blinkeviciute, as well as the way the LSDP positioned itself as the main alternative to the preceding unpopular centre-right government, which was blamed for the rising cost of living, stubbornly high social exclusion, and the underfunding and gradual privatisation of the public sector. 

In the election the ruling centre-right Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats lost almost half their support and their Freedom Party coalition parties fell below the 5% threshold to enter parliament.

“This was a unified decision by the party’s presidium, affirming that he is the most suitable candidate with the necessary experience and qualities for the position of prime minister,” the LSDP leader told reporters, LRT.lt reported.

She cited her age and health as reasons for stepping aside, saying, “as a nearly 65-year-old pensioner, I have come to realise through the election period just how demanding the role would be, both in terms of health and strength,” Blinkeviciute said, LRT.lt reported.

She also confirmed she will not take a seat in the Lithuanian parliament and plans to complete her final term in the European Parliament, where she has served since 2009.

The LSDP is hoping to form a coalition with the Union of Democrats For Lithuania, and the Farmers and Greens, whose vote plummeted in the election after the For Lithuania party split from it, but animosities between the leaders of the two parties may prevent this. 

Paluckas has also said he is open to working with the Liberal Movement, though this would require significant compromises on the LSDP programme, or the radical rightwing Dawn of Nemunas party, though this would draw strong criticism from fellow European Social Democrats.