Inga Ruginienė (née Raitelaitytė; born 24 May 1981) is a Lithuanian trade unionist and politician serving as Minister of Social Security and Labour since 2026. Previously she served as the 19th Prime Minister of Lithuania from 25 September 2025 until 14 July 2026. A member of the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania, she has been a Member of the Seimas since 2024.
In 2024, Ruginienė joined the LSDP to participate in the parliamentary elections held that year. She was elected to the Seimas in November 2024 and the following month became the Minister of Social Security and Labour in the new LSDP government under Prime Minister Gintautas 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 the Seimas on 26 August.
In June 2026, the LSDP announced the collapse of its coalition with the populist Dawn of Nemunas party following growing disagreements over security policy and internal coalition tensions. Following the coalition breakdown, uncertainty emerged regarding whether Ruginienė would remain prime minister, as negotiations over the formation of a new governing coalition and cabinet began. She was succeeded by Mindaugas Sinkevičius in July 2026.
Early life and education Inga Ruginienė was born in Trakai on 24 May 1981. She grew up in Grigiškės, but spent summers during her childhood in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk. Her maternal grandmother lived in Ukraine, while her grandfather was deported to Siberia following World War II. Her grandparents subsequently met in Siberia.
In 1999, she graduated from in Grigiškės. In 2005, Ruginienė earned a master's degree in public health from Vilnius University.
Career Ruginienė worked as a public health specialist at the State Environmental Health Center from 2005 to 2008. Ruginienė worked as Vilnius region director for the company "S Stata" from 2008 to 2010.
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. In 2015, Ruginienė earned a bachelor's degree in forest management from the .
She also served as chair of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation from 2018 to 2024. In 2022, she earned a master's in labor law from Mykolas Romeris University. She served as vice president of the European Trade Union Confederation from 2023 to 2024.
Ruginienė entered electoral politics when she ran in the 2024 Lithuanian parliamentary election. Her name appeared on the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) candidate list, though she was not an official member of any party at the time of the election. Despite finishing in sixth place in the Naujininkai–Rasos single-seat constituency, she secured a seat in the multi-mandate district of the Seimas due to her position in the party list. She became an official member of the LSDP in November 2024, after the election.
Following the Social Democrats' victory in the parliamentary election, Ruginienė became the Minister of Social Security and Labour. She served in the Paluckas Cabinet from 12 December 2024 until its dissolution on 4 August 2025. After its dissolution, she served as acting minister.
Within the Seimas, Ruginienė served on the parliamentary committee on human rights. She has also served as vice chair of the parliamentary group on forest conservation and as a member of the "against mass immigration", "friends of Neringa", and women's parliamentary groups.
On 6 August 2025, the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party nominated Ruginienė for Prime Minister. The nomination was approved on 26 August. On 25 September 2025, the parliament voted 80–42 to approve a coalition government led by the Social Democratic Party, swearing her in as the new prime minister.
Political positions According to journalist Stasys Gudavičius, Ruginienė represents "left–social democratic" political positions.
Social issues Ruginienė supports same-sex unions and stated on 7 August that she would renew discussions on enshrining same-sex unions into law. She supports the proposed Reproductive Health Law, which would make abortions free of charge and legalise medical abortions.
Economics Ruginienė supports the buy-out of private shares in the energy holding company Ignitis. 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." She also indicated that her cabinet might increase certain tax rates, especially the excise tax for alcohol and tobacco products.
Defense Ruginienė has stated that she considers national security a priority. She has indicated that she would maintain the Paluckas Government's plan to increase defense spending to 5–6% of GDP.
She has stated that it might be necessary for Lithuania to introduce universal military conscription.
Foreign policy Ruginienė has expressed strong support for Ukraine in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian War. In August 2025, she stated that she had no clear position as to whether Lithuania should send troops to Ukraine as part of a potential peacekeeping force.
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. China downgraded its relations with Lithuania following the 2021 establishment of a Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius which used the name "Taiwan" instead of "Taipei". Ruginienė has stated that she aims to normalise diplomatic relations with Beijing, but not to pursue "friendly relations".
Immigration Ruginienė is a member of the parliamentary group "against mass immigration".
In January 2025, Ruginienė was interviewed about immigration on the TV station LRT televizija. She argued that migration should be more tightly controlled for security reasons, that Lithuania should focus on attracting skilled workers who will stay and contribute to the tax base, and that integration should be a priority.
Prime Minister of Lithuania (2025–2026)
Inga Ruginienė was nominated for the office of Prime Minister by President Gitanas Nausėda in early August 2025 following the resignation of her predecessor, Gintautas Paluckas. On 26 August 2025, the Seimas 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 her Cabinet took the oath of office before Parliament, marking the beginning of her term.
Her cabinet was formed by a coalition of the Social Democratic Party, Dawn of Nemunas, Farmers and Greens Union and Electoral Action of Poles. In June 2026, the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party announced the collapse of its coalition with the populist Dawn of Nemunas party following growing disagreements over security policy, political rhetoric, and internal coalition tensions. The decision marked a major political challenge for Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė’s government and prompted discussions regarding the formation of a new parliamentary majority. Following the breakdown of the coalition, the Social Democrats began consultations with other political parties concerning possible cooperation in government.
On 23 June 2026, Ruginienė and her cabinet resigned following the formation of a new governing coalition after the Social Democratic Party ended its coalition agreement with Dawn of Nemunas. President Gitanas Nausėda asked the outgoing government to continue serving in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed. She was succeeded by Social Democratic Party leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius on July 14, 2026, with Dawn of Nemunas being replaced by Union of Democrats "For Lithuania" as a coalition partner. Ruginienė assumed her former office of Minister of Social Security and Labour in the Sinkevičius cabinet.
Domestic Policy
Lithuanian Airspace Security Breach 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 the Ministry 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, the Ministry 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 of border control points. Lithuania emphasises that such activity poses a direct threat to civil aviation and public safety. Lithuanian authorities maintain constant contact with border institutions in Poland and Latvia, where similar incidents have also been recorded.
Labour and Social Policy Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė’s government has prioritised social welfare, pension reform, and labour protections. In August 2025, while presenting her government priorities, Ruginienė stated that her administration would focus on increasing the minimum monthly wage, accelerating pension growth, and revising social support indicators to better assist low-income families. She also pledged to improve access to healthcare services and reduce poverty levels across Lithuania.
In June 2025, Lithuania’s parliament approved reforms to the second-pillar pension system prepared by the Ministry of Social Security and Labour under Ruginienė’s leadership. The reform introduced voluntary participation, removed automatic enrolment, expanded withdrawal possibilities, and allowed contributors greater flexibility in suspending or adjusting pension contributions.
Healthcare and Regional Access Ruginienė has publicly supported efforts to improve healthcare accessibility in Lithuania’s regions and reduce inequalities between urban and rural municipalities. In October 2025, Ruginienė became patron of the “Rožinis Autobusas” (“Pink Bus”) initiative, which provides mobile breast cancer screening and preventive healthcare services for women living outside major cities. During the event, the Prime Minister stated that preventive healthcare and equal access to medical services must remain a national priority.
Agriculture and Rural Economy The government placed increased attention on Lithuania’s agricultural sector, particularly dairy farming and the economic stability of rural communities. In October 2025, Ruginienė met with representatives of Lithuanian dairy producers to discuss declining milk purchase prices, market competitiveness, and state support mechanisms for farmers. During the meeting, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of ensuring long-term sustainability for domestic milk producers and maintaining the viability of rural regions dependent on agriculture.
Drone and Airspace Security Incidents