Sinkevičius Says Family Policy Will Be the Signature of His Government

Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius says family policy should become the defining mark of his government, not a symbolic initiative or a marketing exercise.

“We want to make family policy the signature of this government, not for show or for some marketing effect,” Sinkevičius told Žinių radijas. He said the policy would require investment, while other issues would likely take second or third place in the government’s priorities.

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We want to make family policy the signature of this government, not for show or for some marketing effect.

He grouped family policy with defence financing and pension increases as non-negotiable priorities in preparing next year’s state budget. The task, he said, would be difficult because the government would not have a surplus and would need to work with a deficit budget. Ministers would have to balance social policy, described as keeping people secure, with national defence.

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The task will certainly not be easy. We will certainly not have a surplus, and we will certainly have a deficit budget.

Sinkevičius said economic growth and more efficient use of existing resources could help cover rising expenditure. He said the government had no current plans to increase existing tax rates. He also called for more practical management across public institutions, a review of how centralization and decentralization had worked, and stronger efforts to combat the shadow economy.

The social security and labour minister is expected to present a Family Package in the autumn. The proposals under consideration include more flexible childcare leave, larger benefits, improved access to housing and help with children’s activities. Coalition partners are also discussing the need to raise the birth rate and the possibility of a cross-party agreement on demographics.

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There are, of course, no plans for new taxes, and for now we also have no plans to raise existing tax rates.