Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė recently returned from a trip to Milan, Italy, where she attended the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. While the visit included a diplomatic component, Ruginienė emphasized her primary goal was to support Lithuanian athletes competing in the games.
“The purpose of the visit was probably not so much international diplomacy as it was a desire to support our athletes who are there,” Ruginienė told reporters on Wednesday. “I am highly happy that I met shining eyes, a real passion for sports. What our athletes are doing, really, is not easy, but I am really proud and very happy with the results our athletes are demonstrating,” she added, noting she brought back “good impressions, warmth, smiles and the spirit of the fans.”
The Prime Minister’s office indicated to local media that the trip was not solely a show of support for Lithuanian athletes, but also a “essential diplomatic mission in a broader geopolitical context.”
During her time in Italy, Ruginienė met with the presidents of Germany and Latvia, Baltic prime ministers, and attended a reception hosted by the Italian President. Discussions focused on regional security, support for Ukraine, European unity, and strategic partnerships, according to a statement from the government.
“The Prime Minister also attended a reception hosted by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, which brought together world leaders – this became a significant opportunity to strengthen Lithuania’s visibility on the international stage,” the Prime Minister’s office stated.
Trip Costs Exceed €10,000
A decree signed by the Prime Minister details that six people accompanied her on the five-day trip to Milan: Ruginienė herself, her spouse Vismantas Ruginis, advisor Kęstutis Kudzmanas on international affairs, advisor Povilas Saulevičius, and two officers from the Lithuanian State Security Department.
The expenses for all members of the delegation, including the Prime Minister’s husband, were paid for from the funds of the Prime Minister’s Office and relevant institutions.
As of now, more than €10,300 has been spent on the trip, with approximately €3,000 covering flight costs, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. The invoice for accommodation at the Hotel Principe di Savoia has not yet been received. The Prime Minister’s Office noted that the Latvian President and Prime Minister, as well as leaders from other countries, also stayed at the same hotel.
Rationale for Spouse’s Travel Expenses
Images shared by Prime Minister Ruginienė on social media included her husband. When questioned about why V. Ruginis traveled to Milan and why his expenses were covered by government funds, the Prime Minister’s advisor, Ignas Algirdas Dobrovolskas, stated, “The attendance of the spouse at such events is a practice that complies with diplomatic protocol.”
The Prime Minister’s Office provided a more detailed explanation, noting that heads of state and prime ministers may be accompanied by their spouses on official foreign visits. The travel and accommodation costs for spouses or other accompanying family members are paid in accordance with legal regulations.
“The vast majority of leaders, for example, the Latvian Prime Minister and the President of the Czech Republic, were accompanied by their spouses in Milan,” the office stated.
“Spouses are considered members of the delegation, so their travel expenses (e.g., flight costs) are paid in the same manner as other delegation members, but they are not allocated daily allowances. Usually, as in this case, spouses stay together,” the Prime Minister’s Office added.
Political Analyst: Questionable Practice
Commenting on the Prime Minister and her husband’s trip to Milan, political scientist Gabrielė Burbulytė-Tsiskarishvili of Klaipėda University told local media that the Prime Minister’s visit is important in terms of cultural and sports diplomacy. She noted that such informal settings with leaders from other countries can provide opportunities to discuss issues that may not be fully addressed in official meetings.
“Plus – supporting the national team is really important not only for the athletes themselves, but also shows the world that the government supports its country’s athletes. That is very important,” Burbulytė-Tsiskarishvili said.
However, she expressed concern that the travel expenses for the Prime Minister’s husband were paid from the Prime Minister’s Office budget.
“I don’t think that is a very good thing,” she said.
“We have had similar voyages in the past, involving various politicians – including the highest officials in the country. We understand how much discussion this has caused,” Burbulytė-Tsiskarishvili stated, noting that the current government had promised a departure from previous practices during the election campaign.
“When the spouse’s travel is paid for from their own pocket, We see a very good sign that transparent and different policies are being implemented compared to previous governments,” she added.
