Lithuanian government faces sharp criticism over competence, says public figure Andrius Tapinas

A new government led by Social Democrat Inga Ruginienė has pushed Lithuania to a “peak of incompetence,” according to prominent commentator Andrius Tapinas, who called the current cabinet the least qualified in the country’s history.

In an interview with politika.lt and reported by LRT, Tapinas stated that Ruginienė’s administration lacks the structural competence seen even in past governments led by Algirdas Butkevičius, Saulius Skvernelis, or Ramūnas Karbauskis. “We could criticise previous leaders for changing opinions daily or poor English, but we never faced such fundamental incompetence,” he said.

Tapinas accused Ruginienė of suffering from the Dunning-Kruger effect—overestimating her abilities while failing to assemble a capable team. “She couldn’t even prepare for an interview with Rima Urbonaite,” he remarked, adding that her inner circle lacks advisors willing to challenge her decisions. “There’s total confusion and a complete absence of leadership.”

Reflecting on recent protests, Tapinas compared the atmosphere to Lithuania’s 1990s pro-independence Sąjūdis rallies, though he noted today’s demonstrations remain subdued. “We’re still at the level of smoldering tires,” he said, suggesting only existential threats—such as debates over leaving the EU or NATO—could mobilise mass dissent. Current issues like lifting sanctions on Belarus, he argued, lack the same potential to spark large-scale unrest.

Tapinas, a vocal critic of the government, has previously organised protests, including a 2018 demonstration against a former KGB-linked politician. He acknowledged past events sometimes softened public anger with cultural elements, like performances by musician Jurgis Didžiulis, but warned that underlying frustration persists.