Interpellation initiated against Prime Minister Ruginienė over data leaks and ethics violations

An interpellation has been initiated in the Seimas against Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė, with lawmakers raising questions about recent data breaches at the State Enterprise Centre of Registers (RC) and a ruling by the Chief Official Ethics Commission (VTEK) that found her in gross violation of the law, LRT reports.

The document demands clarification on when Ruginienė first learned of unauthorised access to RC-managed information systems and the illegal disclosure of registry data to third parties. It also asks what instructions she issued to the Interior Minister and other responsible institutions, as well as what actions were taken within the Migration Department.

Lawmakers further seek answers on why the public was informed about the RC incident only later and whether the government discussed political accountability for the breach.

Questions are also raised regarding the VTEK ruling, which found Ruginienė in gross violation of the law for including family members in official work trips. The interpellation asks why she did not recuse herself from decisions involving her family’s private interests and what measures have been taken to regulate conflicts of interest in government institutions following the ruling.

Ruginienė is also pressed on whether she intends to resign and what steps will be taken to restore public trust in the Cabinet, the security of state registry data, and the transparency of her decision-making.

Laurynas Kasčiūnas, leader of the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD), previously hinted at initiating a no-confidence procedure against the Prime Minister, though he noted this would depend on whether the Social Democrats provide clarity on leadership in a new coalition. Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) chairman Mindaugas Sinkevičius has yet to publicly confirm whether he will assume the role of Prime Minister.