The decision was made at the meeting of the LSDP Board on Thursday.
According to Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius, the minister of health is one of the best all time ministers who is appreciated on the EU level. Some members of the LSDP expressed a concern that a very capable and popular minister will leave Lithuania for Brussels.
The prime minister said it was yet too early to tell what area Andriukaitis would be responsible for.
"At the meeting of the European Council President Dalia Grybauskaite will have a chance to discuss with the heads of other states what portfolio may be granted. A lot depends on major countries," Butkevicius said.
The prime minister hopes that Andriukaitis' candidacy will be supported by the ruling coalition. When asked if he is aware of the Labour Party's candidate to the European Commission, the prime minister replied that this will have to be discussed on Monday during the meeting of the council of the ruling parties.
The LSDP had other possible candidates besides Andriukaitis, for example, Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius, MEPs Vilija Blinkeviciute and Zigmantas Balcytis, MP Birute Vesaite.
Minister of Health Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis claimed to know about his nomination only through the media. He is going to meet with President Dalia Grybauskaite on Friday but did not speculate whether she would support his candidacy. Andriukaitis' successor in the Ministry of Health is also to be determined.
The politician said that most suited areas for him are health care, social security and consumer rights.
The minister believes that a solid and collective solution to the issue is needed. "I expected a discussion in the Presidium last Saturday. (...) I was involved in building social democracy since 1989, I am a proponent of a collective decision (...)," Andriukaitis said.
Commissioners are appointed by the head of the European Commission after conferring with the submitting Government.
The term of office of the current European Commission ended after the European Parliament election which was held on 25 May. It is still not known what areas the Lithuanian candidate will supervise.
Previously Lithuania was represented by two commissioners: Algirdas Semeta, who was appointed in 2009 as the Commissioner responsible for Taxation, Customs, Statistics, Audit and Anti-Fraud; and Dalia Grybauskaite, appointed in 2004 as the Commissioner responsible for Financial Programming and Budget.
