Prunskienė remembered as a bright and skilled communicator

Former Lithuanian government spokesperson Česlovas Juršėnas has described the late Kazimira Prunskienė, Lithuania’s first female prime minister, as a “bright woman who knew how to communicate with everyone,” LRT.lt reports.

Prunskienė led Lithuania’s first post-independence government from 1990 to 1991, resigning on January 8, 1991, after price liberalisation led to sharp increases in food costs. The move, necessary after Moscow ended subsidies, also sparked protests that opponents of independence exploited. However, Juršėnas noted that the primary reason for her resignation was a conflict with Vytautas Landsbergis, then-chairman of the Supreme Council.

“She was a very elegant woman—interesting to listen to, interesting to look at. She could communicate not only with ordinary Lithuanians and officials but also with foreign representatives. She made a famous multi-stage trip where she was received by Western leaders: the US president, the French president, the German chancellor, and the British prime minister. She was highly educated, a doctor of sciences and a professor, yet she prepared thoroughly for every meeting and every action in the government and the Supreme Council. She knew how to operate in those new circumstances,” Juršėnas said.

He recalled that after independence was restored on March 11, 1990, the country had to rebuild its state structures, economy, and international relations—an immense task. “The first major work was done under her leadership. But unfortunately, tensions arose between the right-wing Supreme Council and Prunskienė, who, according to the statutes, was more left-leaning. And, of course, there was tension between the two leaders. In the end, she resigned. But her contribution to the building of Lithuania is enormous,” Juršėnas added.

Prunskienė played a key role in restoring international relations, engaging with Western states that supported Lithuania but were hesitant to officially recognise or establish diplomatic ties. At the same time, she had to navigate relations with the Soviet Union, which refused to acknowledge Lithuania’s independence and launched an aggressive operation on January 13, 1991.

Juršėnas also recounted how Moscow expected to force Lithuania to yield through economic and fuel blockades in the spring of 1990. Prunskienė, as prime minister, appeared to consider concessions to the Soviet Union but ultimately did not make any. To resolve the crisis, the government proposed a moratorium—a highly controversial move that initially faced strong opposition from hardliners in the Supreme Council, who accused the government of betrayal. However, a compromise was eventually reached, with Landsbergis siding with Prunskienė. The moratorium, crafted with careful legal wording, deceived Moscow into believing Lithuania had conceded, leading to the end of the economic blockade.

On a lighter note, Juršėnas remembered Prunskienė’s serious demeanour during press conferences, where she would sometimes pass notes urging him to smile.