Polish national to head Lithuania's interior ministry

Władysław Kondratowicz, a member of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, began his career at the Ministry of Transport and Communications in 2013 and assumed his current role in 2023.

"The presence of a Pole in the new government is very good news for the Polish community in Lithuania," said Dr. Andrzej Pukszto from Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas. He emphasized that "this is not about addressing specific issues but about image and representation."

The political analyst noted that in recent years, nearly every Lithuanian government has included a Polish representative. In 2012, Jarosław Niewierowicz was appointed Minister of Energy, in 2019, Jarosław Narkiewicz became Minister of Transport and Communications, Rita Tamašunienė served as Minister of the Interior, and in the past four years, Ewelina Dobrowolska held the position of Minister of Justice.

Pukszto also observed that "the presence of Poles in Lithuanian government structures is facilitated by Poland's growing significance in the region, the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in security and infrastructure development, and the favorable atmosphere in Polish-Lithuanian relations."

The new government of Lithuania has been formed following the parliamentary elections in October. The center-left ruling coalition comprises three parties: the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (which won 52 seats in the 141-member Seimas), Dawn of Nemunas (20 seats), and the Democratic Union "For Lithuania" (14 seats).

Key appointments in the new cabinet include Kęstutis Budrys, President Gitanas Nausėda's advisor on national security, as the new Foreign Minister, and Dovilė Šakalienė, a member of the Social Democratic Party, who will lead the Ministry of Defense.

The swearing-in of the new ministers is scheduled for next week, pending the Seimas' approval of the government's program.