Vilnius - Lithuania's President Valdas Adamkus confirmed Friday that Andrius Kubilius, leader of the the Homeland Union - Christian Democrats political party, will be the next prime minister of the Baltic country. Kubilius' candidature had been backed by the Lithuanian parliament or Seimas, on Thursday, but according to the Lithuanian constitution, the prime minister also needs to receive formal presidential assent, which Adamkus duly provided.
Kubilius now has up to two weeks to present his government's programme to Seimas, once it too receives presidential backing. However, he said he would move faster in order to get his government functioning as soon as possible.
"Next Thursday we hope to submit the programme to parliament after the president has met with all ministerial candidates and approved the government list," Kubilius told reporters Friday.
A new cabinet will be formed by a four-party centre-right coalition of the Homeland Union - Christian Democrats, the Rising Nation party, the Liberal Movement and the Liberal and Center Union.
The new administration has already outlined its main policies which include tax reform, cuts in public spending and tackling the threat of an energy supply shortage when Lithuania's sole nuclear power station shuts down at the end of 2009 as part of an agreement with the European Union.
Despite a marked slowdown in the Lithuanian economy, Kubilius said Friday that Lithuania is still in a better financial situation than the other Baltic states of Estonia and Latvia.
"Our calculation of negative GDP growth of 1.5 per cent for 2009 is the most optimistic," he said.
It will be 51 year-old Kubilius' second stint as prime minister, having previously served in the role during 1999-2000.
