Vilija Blinkevičiūtė (born 3 March 1960) is a Lithuanian lawyer and politician, Member of the European Parliament and former long-term Minister for Social Security and Labour.

However, in an unexpected announcement in October 2024, she declared that she would not pursue the role of Prime Minister of Lithuania, opting instead to continue serving as a Member of the European Parliament.

The Budget and Finance Committee of Seimas, established 11 years later, which investigated the causes of the crisis, accused Blinkevičiūtė of "reckless increase of pensions" and violations of fiscal discipline, which contributed to the deep economic recession in the country.

Nonetheless, she resisted calls to step down from her position as a Member of the European Parliament and confirmed her intention to serve her term there until its conclusion in 2029.

[9] Her unprecedented move decision not to become Prime Minister caused controversy, and many Lithuanian public figures accused Blinkevičiūtė of deceiving the voters.