Public approval drops for prime minister and parliament speaker, Homeland Union remains most popular party

A new public opinion poll conducted by Baltijos tyrimai for the Lithuanian news agency ELTA shows declining approval ratings for Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė and Parliament Speaker Juozas Olekas, while the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) remains the country’s most popular party.

The survey, carried out between March 19–30, found that only 41% of respondents now view Ruginienė favourably, a five-percentage-point drop from February. Olekas saw a three-point decline, with 32% now holding a positive opinion of him.

Former presidents Valdas Adamkus (84% approval) and Dalia Grybauskaitė (63%) remain the most favourably viewed public figures, followed by Green Farmers’ Union leader Aurelijus Veryga (46%), journalist Andrius Tapinas (45%), and President Gitanas Nausėda—though Nausėda’s approval (45%) is nearly matched by his disapproval rating (48%).

Among other political figures, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys (44%), journalist Edmundas Jakilaitis (43%), and Green Farmers’ MP Valius Ąžuolas (42%) also ranked highly. Ruginienė (41%) and Social Democrat leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius (39%) rounded out the top ten.

The least popular figures include former Conservative leader Gabrielius Landsbergis (77% disapproval), ex-Social Democrat leader Vilija Blinkevičiūtė (68%), and professor Vytautas Landsbergis (69%).

Sociologist Rasa Ališauskienė noted that Ruginienė’s approval had already dipped two months prior, suggesting fluctuations tied to broader public dissatisfaction with political conflicts. Meanwhile, Veryga and Conservative MP Ingrida Šimonytė saw notable gains—Veryga’s approval rose seven points to 46%, while Šimonytė’s climbed from 23% to 30%.

The poll sampled Lithuanian residents aged 18 and older.