Vilnius, June 23 : Inga Ruginiene on Tuesday resigned as Lithuania's Prime Minister after just over nine months in power. The outgoing cabinet held its last meeting on Tuesday, during which ministers unanimously approved a resolution on their resignation, local media reported.

During the meeting, Ruginiene said, "Despite all the difficulties, we have much to be proud of, and each of you has made a significant contribution to the welfare of our state and the improving lives of our people."

"Today we take the decision to resign and return the government's powers to the President of the Republic," she added.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ruginiene spoke about her time in office, Lithuanian public broadcaster Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT) reported.

She said, "In politics you can learn many things â?? how to look good, how to speak fluently â?? but you cannot learn courage or humanity." She noted that empathy, the ability to listen to the people and the courage to act were the qualities that helped her not to lose her way during difficult choices and responsibilities.

She suggested that some people were unsettled by the fact that she did not fit "the established stereotypical image of what a prime minister should be, how they should speak, how they should behave, how they should look." However, she stated that she had never believed a leader should be built as per someone else's ready-made template.

Inga Ruginiene rejected claims that she as being sacrificed by her own party, saying the transition was a normal political process, according to LRT report.

The resignation resolution will be given to Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda on Tuesday. Nauseda will ask the outgoing cabinet to continue in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed. Under the coalition agreement, the President must submit a candidate for PM to parliament within 15 days. Social Democratic leader Mindaugas Sinkevicius has been nominated for PM's position.

After getting approval by parliament, the incoming prime minister will have up to 15 more days to present a cabinet and government programme for parliamentary endorsement. The new ruling majority includes the Union of Democrats "For Lithuania", the Social Democrats and the Lithuanian Farmers, Greens and Christian Families Union.

At least four ministerial portfolios will have change in leadership under the coalition agreement - the Democrats will take agriculture, energy and health portfolios while Social Democrats will have environment ministry. Ruginiene is expected to take up the role of Lithuania's minister of social security and labour in the new cabinet.

Prior to assuming office as Lithuania's PM in September 2025, Inga Ruginiene served as Minister of Social Security and Labour in the 19th government. She has experience in leadership roles, including serving as the President of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation, Vice President of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Vice President of the International Trade Union Confederation - European Region (ITUC-PERC), and Chairperson of the Lithuanian Federation of Trade Unions of the Forest and Forest Industry. She has been a Member of Lithuania's Parliament (Seimas) since 2024.

/IANS