Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and Prime Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė have publicly backed Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys amidst speculation about his future in government. Nausėda dismissed the discussions as "not very responsible" given the absence of concrete allegations, suggesting Budrys's popularity might be a factor in the criticism. Ruginienė reiterated her trust in Budrys, emphasizing the importance of stability for Lithuania's international image. This support comes ahead of a Lithuanian Social Democratic Party council meeting where the governing coalition's future is expected to be debated. Budrys, a non-partisan minister appointed in December 2024, has faced criticism from coalition partners like Remigijus Žemaitaitis and concerns from the Social Democratic Party leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius regarding policy implementation and coordination.