Inga Ruginienė | |
|---|---|
.jpeg) Ruginienė in 2025 | |
| 19th Prime Minister of Lithuania | |
| Assumed office 25 September 2025 | |
| President | Gitanas Nausėda |
| Preceded by | Gintautas Paluckas Rimantas Šadžius (acting) |
| Minister of Social Security and Labour | |
| In office 12 December 2024 – 25 September 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Gintautas Paluckas Rimantas Šadžius (acting) |
| Preceded by | Vytautas Šilinskas |
| Succeeded by | Jūratė Zailskienė |
| Member of the Seimas | |
| Assumed office 14 November 2024 | |
| Constituency | Multi-member |
| President of theLithuanian Trade Union Confederation | |
| In office 4 May 2018 – 13 November 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Artūras Černiauskas |
| Succeeded by | Audrius Gelžinis (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Inga Raitelaitytė (1981-05-24)24 May 1981 (age 44) Trakai, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Political party | LSDP (since 2024)[1] |
| Spouse | Vismantas Ruginis[2] |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Mykolas Romeris University Vilnius University |
Inga Ruginienė (néeRaitelaitytė; born 24 May 1981) is a Lithuanian trade unionist and politician who has served as the 19thprime minister of Lithuania since 25 September 2025. A member of theSocial Democratic Party (LSDP), she has also been serving as aMember of the Seimas since 2024 and served as theMinister of Social Security and Labour prior to her appointment as prime minister.
In 2024, Ruginienė joined the LSDP to participate inthe parliamentary elections held that year. She was elected to theSeimas in November 2024 and the following month became the Minister of Social Security and Labour in the new LSDP government under Prime MinisterGintautas Paluckas. On 4 August 2025, Paluckas resigned as prime minister following financial scandals and the LSDP nominated Ruginienė for prime minister two days later. Her nomination was subsequently confirmed by theSeimas on 26 August.
Inga Ruginienė was born inTrakai on 24 May 1981.[3][4] She grew up inGrigiškės, but spent summers during her childhood in the eastern Ukrainian city ofKramatorsk.[5][6] Her maternal grandmother lived in Ukraine, while her grandfather was deported to Siberia followingWorld War II.[5] Her grandparents subsequently met inSiberia.[5]
In 1999, she graduated fromŠviesa Gymnasium [lt] in Grigiškės.[7] In 2005, Ruginienė earned amaster's degree inpublic health fromVilnius University.[3][4]
Ruginienė worked as a public health specialist at the State Environmental Health Center from 2005 to 2008.[3][4] Ruginienė worked as Vilnius region director for the company "S Stata" from 2008 to 2010.[3][4]
Ruginienė served as vice chair of the Lithuanian Federation of Forest and Wood Workers' Trade Unions from 2012 to 2014, and as chair from 2014 to 2018.[3][4] In 2015, Ruginienė earned abachelor's degree inforest management from theKaunas Forestry and Environmental Engineering College [lt].[4]
She also served as chair of theLithuanian Trade Union Confederation from 2018 to 2024.[3][4] In 2022, she earned a master's inlabor law fromMykolas Romeris University.[3][4] She served as vice president of theEuropean Trade Union Confederation from 2023 to 2024.[3][4]
Ruginienė entered electoral politics when she ran in the2024 Lithuanian parliamentary election.[8][3][4] Her name appeared on theLithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) candidate list, though she was not an official member of any party at the time of the election.[8][9][10] Despite finishing in sixth place in theNaujininkai–Rasos single-seat constituency,[11] she secured a seat in the multi-mandate district of theSeimas due to her position in the party list.[12] She became an official member of the LSDP in November 2024, after the election.[9]
Following the Social Democrats' victory in the parliamentary election, Ruginienė became theMinister of Social Security and Labour.[13] She served in thePaluckas Cabinet from 12 December 2024 until its dissolution on 4 August 2025. After its dissolution, she served as acting minister.[14][15][16]
Within the Seimas, Ruginienė served on theparliamentary committee onhuman rights.[17] She has also served as vice chair of theparliamentary group onforest conservation and as a member of the "against mass immigration", "friends ofNeringa", andwomen's parliamentary groups.[4]
On 6 August 2025, the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party nominated Ruginienė forPrime Minister.[18] The nomination was approved on 26 August.[13] On 25 September 2025, theparliament voted 80–42 to approve acoalition government led by the Social Democratic Party, swearing her in as the new prime minister.[19][20]
According to journalist Stasys Gudavičius, Ruginienė represents "left–social democratic" political positions.[21]
Ruginienė supportssame-sex unions and stated on 7 August that she would renew discussions on enshrining same-sex unions into law.[22] She supports the proposed Reproductive Health Law, which would makeabortions free of charge and legalizemedical abortions.[23]
Ruginienė supports the buy-out of private shares in the energy holding companyIgnitis. Describing her views on economics, she stated that "it's no secret that I represent left-wing politics, and I believe that the public sector should be strengthened and be more in the hands of the state."[24] She also indicated that her cabinet might increase certain tax rates, especially theexcise tax for alcohol and tobacco products.[25]
Ruginienė has stated that she considersnational security a priority. She has indicated that she would maintain thePaluckas Government's plan to increasedefense spending to 5–6% ofGDP.[26]
She has stated that it might be necessary for Lithuania to introduceuniversal military conscription.[27]
Ruginienė has expressed strong support forUkraine in the context of theRusso-Ukrainian War.[6] In August 2025, she stated that she had no clear position as to whether Lithuania should send troops to Ukraine as part of apotential peacekeeping force.[28]
Ruginienė has called China a threat but has emphasised that Lithuania's policy should align with the European Union's common position on the country.[29] China downgradedits relations with Lithuania following the 2021 establishment of aTaiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius which used the name "Taiwan" instead of "Taipei".[29] Ruginienė has stated that she aims to normalize diplomatic relations with Beijing, but not to pursue "friendly relations".[30]
Ruginienė is a member of the parliamentary group "against mass immigration".[4]
In January 2025, Ruginienė was interviewed about immigration on the TV stationLRT televizija. She argued that migration should be more tightly controlled for security reasons, that Lithuania should focus on attractingskilled workers who will stay and contribute to thetax base, and thatintegration should be a priority.[31]
Inga Ruginienė was nominated for the office of Prime Minister by PresidentGitanas Nausėda in early August 2025 following the resignation of her predecessor,Gintautas Paluckas. On 26 August 2025, theSeimas approved her appointment by a vote of 78 in favor, 35 against, and 14 abstentions. Subsequently, President Nausėda issued the formal decree confirming her as Prime Minister, and on 25 September 2025 she and herCabinet took the oath of office before Parliament, marking the beginning of her term.[32][33]
Her cabinet is formed by a coalition of theSocial Democratic Party,Dawn of Nemunas,Farmers and Greens Union andElectoral Action of Poles.[34]
Following the incident that happened on 22 October 2025, when a large group of contraband meteorological balloons was launched from Belarus into Lithuanian territory, the National Security Commission (NSC) was convened on the instruction of Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė. During the meeting, threats and risks to civil aviation safety and the protection of the state border were assessed, and decisions were taken on further measures to curb smuggling activities by air.
The meeting also discussed technological solutions for blocking SIM cards attached to contraband shipments. The Ministry of the Interior (MoI) was tasked with providing information and proposals on technological tools that would allow SIM cards used in smugglers’ tracking devices to be blocked from identifying the landing sites of balloons.
It was further decided to explore technologies capable of neutralising the balloons. The MoI will prepare the necessary technical specifications and submit them to theMinistry of the Economy and Innovation, which will seek high-tech companies capable of developing solutions for balloon detection, tracking, and neutralisation. The aim is to make smuggling activities economically unprofitable and unattractive to smugglers.
In addition, theMinistry of Foreign Affairs was instructed to warn Belarus that failure to take action against smugglers launching balloons or drones from its territory may lead Lithuania to consider a longer-term closure ofborder control points. Lithuania emphasises that such activity poses a direct threat tocivil aviation andpublic safety. Lithuanian authorities maintain constant contact with border institutions in Poland and Latvia, where similar incidents have also been recorded.[35]
On 29 September 2025, Ruginienė spoke by phone with Ukrainian Prime MinisterYuliia Svyrydenko. Ruginienė said that Lithuania’s support for Ukraine will continue and include not only military and financial aid, but also Humanitarianism|humanitarian help. The two leaders also agreed to meet soon inKyiv.[36]
Ruginienė alongside her Government delegation visited Kyiv on October 6, 2025, where they met with Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, and Chairman of the Verkhovna RadaRuslan Stefanchuk.[37]
Olha Nikitchenko, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Lithuania met with Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė on the 24 October 2025. The Prime Minister expressed her gratitude for the warm and productive visit toKyiv earlier this month, emphasizing the relevance of the issues discussed and Lithuania’s determination to turn them into tangible examples of success.[38]
On 3 October 2025, Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė held a telephone conversation withLatvian Prime MinisterEvika Silina. Ruginienė thanked her Latvian colleague for the congratulations extended on the start of her work as Head of Government. The Latvian Prime Minister invited Mrs Ruginienė to visitRiga in the near future to discuss the most pressing issues for both countries. In December, the Heads of Government of all three Baltic States will also meet in Riga in the format of theBaltic Council of Ministers.[39]
Ruginienė visited Poland on 7 October 2025 and met withPolish Prime MinisterDonald Tusk. During her working visit to Poland, Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė met with the country’s Prime Minister, Donald Tusk. At the meeting inWarsaw, the two leaders discussed key bilateral priorities such as security and defence, support for Ukraine, joint infrastructure and energy projects, and other issues. Major joint projects of significant scope and importance – “Rail Baltica”, “Harmony Link”, and “Via Baltica” – are of strategic importance for Lithuania, and their smooth implementation remains a priority for the20th Government.[40]
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė held a telephone call withEstonian Prime MinisterKristen Michal on 10 October 2025. The two leaders emphasized the excellent bilateral relations betweenLithuania andEstonia, the importance of cooperation in defence, security, transport, and energy, also their shared commitment to supporting Ukraine.[41]
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė met with the Ambassador of the United States of America, Kara C. McDonald on 24 October 2025 to discuss the strategic partnership between the two countries and the U.S. role in helping to ensure the security of the region. The discussion also highlighted the importance of continued support for Ukraine and the key role of the United States in helping achieve a lasting and just peace inEurope.[42]
Inga Ruginienė is married to Vismantas Ruginis, a businessman who manages multiple printing supply companies.[43][44] Her mother, Diana Raitelaitienė, serves as the chair of the Lithuanian Federation of Forest and Wood Workers' Trade Unions.[44] Some of Ruginienė's distant relatives live inMoscow, but she has stated that she does not have much contact with them.[6]
Ruginienė served as afirst-aid instructor and volunteer at theLithuanian Red Cross Society from 2004 to 2016, and served on its board from 2016 to 2019.[3][4] From 2021 to 2023 she served as a member of the council of the Kaunas Forestry and Environmental Engineering College.[3][4]
She speaks fluentLithuanian,English andRussian.[3][4] Some commentators have noted that Ruginienė speaks Lithuanian with a slight Russian accent. Ruginienė attributes this to having grown up in a bilingual neighborhood of Vilnius and having spent a lot of time in her childhood in the majorityRussian-speaking part of Ukraine.[6]
Ruginienė enjoys readingdetective novels and has citedThe Little Prince as one of her favorite books.[43] Her hobbies includetravel andpainting.[3][4]
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