Lithuania Prime Minister Resigns Amid Business Scandal, Coalition Crisis

Lithuania's Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas resigned amid growing pressure and investigations into his business dealings, particularly involving a company owned by his sister-in-law that received government-financed contracts. Facing criticism for a deal involving electric batteries and a history of alleged misconduct, including an unpaid fine from a 2012 criminal case related to abuse of office, Paluckas admitted that his past mistakes hindered his government’s work and chose to step down. His resignation followed protests in the capital and threats from a junior coalition party to leave the government unless he resigned, leading to a political shakeup that may leave Lithuania temporarily without an effective government. Despite the turmoil, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, who announced the resignation, is expected to maintain the country's foreign policy, including strong support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Paluckas, a Social Democrat who took office following last year’s elections, has denied wrongdoing in recent weeks, though investigations and media reports have continued to surface. The entire cabinet is also expected to resign, increasing political uncertainty ahead of upcoming regional military exercises.