Žemaitaitis seeks ministry event spending records but omits 2025

Nemuno aušra leader Remigijus Žemaitaitis has asked ministries for records of spending on employee events since 2022, but his request left out 2025, when his party had ministers in government. He said the omission was a mistake, LRT reported.

The request followed a report by Lrytas that the Ministry of National Defence had spent about 45,000 euros on a staff party. Žemaitaitis said he wanted the records to provide an objective comparison and promised to correct the request after being asked why 2025 was not included.

Opposition Homeland Union leader Laurynas Kasčiūnas suggested Žemaitaitis had excluded the year to avoid scrutiny of events held while his party was in government. Social Democratic MP Orinta Leiputė said he should explain the omission himself.

Separately, Delfi reported that the Finance Ministry had planned two events costing 100,000 euros in total but was now considering cancelling them. Finance Minister Taurimas Valys said all ministries had been told to review and reduce such spending.

The Foreign Ministry spends about 38,000 euros a year on two events, including a team-building activity that will not be held next year. The Social Security and Labour Ministry held a winter event for 31,000 euros, while the Economy and Innovation Ministry spends 26,000 euros on team-building. The Education Ministry has planned a 10,000-euro event to recognise its top employees.

Spending by the Justice and Interior ministries is below 10,000 euros, while some other ministries spend about 5,000 euros. The Culture and Health ministries provide no additional funding for staff leisure activities, saying they motivate employees through free events and activities.

Health Minister Linas Kukuraitis said government chancellors had discussed creating a more balanced approach to staff motivation across ministries. Economist Živilė Simonaitytė said the law did not need to set precise rules for such spending, which should be decided by managers.