Lithuanian PM Ruginienė to Travel to Italy with Family – Taxpayer-Funded Trip
Inga Ruginienė to Travel to Italy with Family, Trip Funded by Government
Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė will embark on an official visit to Italy and the Vatican this Friday, accompanied by her husband, Vismantas Ruginis, and their two children. The costs of the family’s travel will be covered by the Government Office, as the invitation extended to the Prime Minister included her entire family, officials confirmed to Delfi.
The delegation will be in Rome and Vatican City from March 6th to March 8th. This decision has sparked discussion, particularly in light of previous instances of the Prime Minister traveling with her husband, such as to the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
What is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear
It is confirmed that Prime Minister Ruginienė will be traveling with her husband and children on this official visit. The Government Office has stated that the invitation extended to the family necessitated covering their travel expenses. The delegation will include several government officials, including the Prime Minister’s advisor, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lithuania’s ambassador to the Holy Observe, and members of the Government Protection Service. The Prime Minister’s sons and daughters are listed as accompanying persons.
However, specific details regarding the nature of the “state functions” the family will perform during the visit remain unclear. While the Prime Minister stated that the family will “properly represent Lithuania,” the exact schedule and responsibilities have not been publicly disclosed. The total cost of the trip, beyond the initial figures reported for the Milan Olympics visit, has not been specified.
Precedent: Previous Family Travel with Lithuanian Leaders
Here’s not the first instance of a Lithuanian leader traveling with family members on official business. Former Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis also traveled to the Vatican with his family, though he personally covered the costs of their expenses, according to reports. This contrasts with the current arrangement, where the Government Office will bear the financial burden of the Ruginienė family’s trip.
How Official Delegations are Funded
Generally, expenses for official delegations undertaking state functions are covered according to standard procedures. This includes travel, accommodation, and other related costs. The funding typically comes from the Government Office and relevant ministries. The decision to include family members in the official delegation, and consequently cover their expenses, is based on the terms of the invitation and diplomatic protocol. LRT reports that the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of her family accepting this “challenge” and fulfilling these functions.
The Prime Minister’s Justification
Prime Minister Ruginienė defended the decision to travel with her family, stating that the invitation was specifically extended to the family by the Vatican and Pope Francis. She expressed her joy that her family was willing to accept the invitation and participate in the visit, viewing it as an opportunity to represent Lithuania appropriately. “We are traveling on a state visit because the invitation was received by the family from the Vatican, from the Pope, and we will carry out these procedures and, hopefully, we will properly represent Lithuania,” she said, according to TV3.
Recent Travel and Associated Costs
The decision to include the family on this trip follows scrutiny of the Prime Minister’s previous travel to the Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics with her husband. At that time, the Government Office described the visit as both a show of support for Lithuanian athletes and a “important diplomatic mission in a broader geopolitical context.” The cost of that five-day trip, including flights and accommodation at the Hotel Principe di Savoia (also frequented by the Latvian President and other heads of state), totaled over 10,300 euros, according to reports.