Vilnius - Irena Degutiene became the first woman to be installed as speaker of the Lithuanian parliament, or Seimas, Thursday after her candidacy was approved in a vote.

Degutiene attracted the support of 87 MPs in the 141-seat chamber with 48 opposing her candidacy.

Following announcement of the results, 60-year-old Degutiene thanked MPs for their trust and said she would welcome advice and even criticism.

"Anyone can come and tell me: 'Degutiene, you're doing something wrong'," the new speaker said.

She also promised to try to improve the image of the parliament among the electorate.

Her predecessor, Arunas Valinskas, was removed from the position on Tuesday over alleged links to a notorious criminal clan.

The new speaker is a parliamentary veteran who has occupied several ministerial positions and served two brief stints as acting prime minister.

She is a member of the same conservative-leaning Homeland Union- Christian Democrats party as Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius.

Her election sees women occupying two of the top jobs in Lithuanian politics for the first time. In May, Lithuanians elected Dalia Grybauskaite as the country's first female president.(dpa)