"Nothing in politics is permanent, and we as politicians must understand that our positions and offices are not eternal," Ruginienė told journalists after the final cabinet meeting. "We are given a certain period of time to do good work, and I believe that this government has made proper use of that time."
Her brief premiership was marked by a series of crises, including balloon-smuggling incidents, drone incursions, a record-high defence budget set at 5,38 GDP, and the dismissal of both the culture and defence ministers.
Breaking the law by taking family members with her on official trips to Italy and the Vatican and poorly handled information about leaked data from the Centre of Registers might seem like the last drops in her tenure as Prime Minister.
However, Ruginienė dismissed the resignation as part of "a normal political process," saying that Sinkevičius had been expected to take over last year; however, "this step was simply postponed," she said, without giving more details. Ruginienė took office in August last year, after the resignation of Gintautas Paluckas following allegations of unethical financial dealings involving loans, EU funds, and business ties concerning him and his relatives.
