The Second Vagnorius Cabinet was the 8th cabinet of Lithuania since 1990. It consisted of the Prime Minister and 17 government ministers.
History Gediminas Vagnorius was appointed the Prime Minister by President Algirdas Brazauskas on 4 December 1996, after the Homeland Union decisively won the elections in October. It was the second time Vagnorius was appointed the Prime Minister, having previously led the 3rd government between 1991 and 1992. The government received its mandate and started its work on 10 December 1996, after the Seimas gave assent to its program.
In 1998, number of ministries (and ministers) was reduced from 17 to 14. Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Economy were merged into the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Construction and Urbanistics, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Forestry were merged into Ministry of Environment.
The government served for almost three years before resigning on 4 May 1999 amid criticism of its response to the 1998 Russian financial crisis and disagreements between Vagnorius and Vytautas Landsbergis, the leader of the Homeland Union. The government continued to serve in an acting capacity (with Irena Degutienė as the acting Prime Minister), until the new Homeland Union government headed by Rolandas Paksas started its work on 10 June 1999.
Cabinet The following ministers served on the Second Vagnorius Cabinet.
Position Name From To Prime Minister Gediminas Vagnorius 10 December 1996 4 May 1999 Ministry of AgricultureOn 19 December 1996, the Ministry of Agriculture was renamed to Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The name was changed back on 6 May 1998. Makelis remained the minister throughout. Edvardas Makelis 10 December 1996 10 June 1999 Ministry of Culture Saulius Šaltenis 10 December 1996 10 June 1999 Ministry of Economy Vincas Babilius 10 December 1996 10 June 1999 Ministry of Education and Science Zigmas Zinkevičius 10 December 1996 1 May 1998 Kornelijus Platelis 1 May 1998 10 June 1999Ministry of EnvironmentThe Ministry of Environment was known as the Ministry of Environmental Protection before 6 May 1998. Imantas Lazdinis 10 December 1996 Algis Čaplikas 25 March 1998 5 March 1999 Danius Lygis 8 April 1999 10 June 1999 Ministry of Finance Rolandas Matiliauskas 10 December 1996 3 February 1997 Algirdas Šemeta 19 February 1997 10 June 1999 Ministry of Foreign Affairs Algirdas Saudargas 10 December 1996 10 June 1999 Ministry of Health Juozas Galdikas 10 December 1996 25 March 1998 Laurynas Stankevičius 25 March 1998 10 June 1999 Ministry of the Interior Vidmantas Žiemelis 10 December 1996 21 May 1998 Stasys Šedbaras 22 May 1998 10 June 1999 Ministry of Justice Vytautas Pakalniškis 10 December 1996 10 June 1999 Ministry of Defence Česlovas Vytautas Stankevičius 10 December 1996 10 June 1999 Ministry of Social Security and Labour Irena Degutienė 10 December 1996 10 June 1999 Ministry of Transport and Communications Algis Žvaliauskas 10 December 1996 25 November 1998 Rimantas Didžiokas 6 January 1999 10 June 1999 Ministry of Government Reforms and Municipalities Kęstutis Skrebys 10 December 1996 10 June 1999 Ministry of Industry and TradeThe Ministry of Industry and Trade was merged into the Ministry of Economy in December 1996. Laima Andrikienė 10 December 1996 19 December 1996 Ministry of European AffairsThe Ministry of European Affairs was newly established in December 1996 and disestablished in June 1998. Laima Andrikienė 19 December 1996 25 March 1998 Ministry of Communication and InformaticsMinistry of Communication and Informatics was reorganized into the Communication and Informatics department of the Ministry of Government Reforms and Municipalities (later merged into the Ministry of the Interior) in 1998. Rimantas Pleikys 10 December 1996 25 March 1998 Ministry of Construction and Urbanistics Algis Čaplikas 10 December 1996 25 March 1998
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