Lithuanian politician R. Žemaitaitis expresses his belief that the costs of a family trip to see the Pope in Rome should have been borne privately rather than by the state.
In recent news, the Lithuanian Prime Minister's visit to the Vatican, accompanied by her husband and two children, has drawn scrutiny. Democratic politician Agnė Širinskienė has even reached out to the Chief Official Ethics Commission (VTEK) regarding the financing of the delegation's trip, which is set to be covered by the Government Chancellery. The inclusion of family members in a government-funded trip has sparked debate surrounding the ethical implications of such expenses.
R. Žemaitaitis, a leader of the 'Aušra' party, commented on the situation, defending the Prime Minister’s increasing religiosity and the positive influence of her faith. However, he questioned whether the trip should have been paid for by public funds, emphasizing the importance of transparency in government expenses. He compared this case to President Gitanas Nausėda’s similar incident, suggesting that all public officials must consider the optics of family travel funded by taxpayers.
Ultimately, R. Žemaitaitis stated he would have personally covered the costs instead of allowing the government to do so, indicating a preference for personal responsibility in such matters. He also remarked that he would have made similar arrangements if it were his own family attending events like the Winter Olympics, reinforcing a consistent position on the separation of personal and state finances in public service.
