Kazimira Prunskienė’s premiership remembered as a time of resilience

As Lithuania marks over 30 years since the formation of its first post-independence government, memories of Kazimira Danutė Prunskienė, the country’s first female prime minister, remain vivid among her colleagues and family.

Prunskienė led the government from March 17, 1990, to January 10, 1991, a period her daughter Rasa Vaitkienė describes as a mix of pride and anxiety. “Joy was intertwined with worry,” she told LRT.lt, recalling the immense workload her mother faced. Prunskienė often returned home with a briefcase full of documents, working late into the night and sleeping only four or five hours.

Despite the demands of office, Vaitkienė remembers her mother as deeply devoted to family. “Even with such a busy schedule, she never forgot to wish us happy birthday or celebrate other holidays. She always found time to visit our grandmother in the countryside, spend weekends with her, and care for her well-being.”

Juozas Olekas, Lithuania’s first post-independence health minister, recalled Prunskienė’s strong leadership during a turbulent time. “My memories are the warmest and most respectful,” he said. Others who worked closely with her noted her determination, with one family member once telling her, “Kazimira, the harder it gets, the better you become.”

Vaitkienė described her mother as fearless in the face of challenges, approaching them with the confidence of “a gladiator.” Yet she also remembered her as a peacemaker, always seeking compromise and avoiding political intrigue. “She was a very simple person. No matter her position, her office door was always open.”

This article was first published on November 6, 2021, as part of LRT.lt’s series “Through the Prime Minister’s Eyes.”