Lithuanian parliament approves Skvernelis as new PM

Lithuanian parliament (Seimas) on Tuesday approved the appointment of Saulius Skvernelis, the leader of Lithuania Peasant and Greens Union (LVZS) electoral list, as the country's new prime minister.

Ninety members of parliament voted in favor of Skvernelis' candidacy, while four were against and 33 abstained from voting.

Skvernelis became Lithuania's 13th prime minister over the last 26 years of an independent Lithuanian state.

"I see this new government as a carrier of changes in order to reduce social exclusion, promote investments and innovations," Skvernelis told parliament.

He repeatedly said the new government will not implement any "unreasoned revolutions, everything will be balanced and measured."

"This government will not be a sleepy government," Skvernelis said, also pledging that his cabinet will cooperate with the Seimas, rather than "dictate to the Seimas."

Representatives of the parliamentary conservative and liberal opposition said the new prime minister lacked specific measures in terms of how his promises will be implemented.

"In his introductive speech last week, Skvernelis underlined priorities which are really the most relevant for Lithuania, such as social exclusion, education, demographic challenges. However, the problem is that we did not learn how exactly these priorities will be achieved," Gabrielius Landsbergis, leader of conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats parliamentary political group, was quoted as saying by the local media.

Skvernelis said more specific and detailed approaches would be will be submitted to the Seimas in a week or two.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite signed a decree appointing Skvernelis as Lithuania's new prime minister later on Tuesday.

The new head of government now has 15 days to form the new cabinet of ministers, prepare the government's program and submit it for the approval of the president and the Seimas. Endit