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Archived edition · September 29, 2026 Today's news →

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Ministry parties draw prime ministerial ire as the deficit may widen

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius has publicly addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding ministry parties, stating that the amount spent is unacceptable. This comes as his government faces a projected budget deficit that may exceed 3% next year, a figure President Gitanas Nausėda's advisor suggests the President would justify to maintain defense funding.

Meanwhile, a new dispute has emerged in the capital, with Transport Minister Juras Taminskas and Vilnius's chief architect Laura Kairienė clashing over future development plans for the city. Relatedly, the return of US troops to Lithuania has been reported, alongside an announcement by Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas of over 62 million euros in EU funding for the 'Eastern Flank Guard' initiative.

In other domestic news, a Lithuanian citizen was denied entry into Latvia for refusing to condemn Putin, and migrants at the Pabradė Registration Center described their living conditions as akin to a prison. The country also saw a new fatal road accident near Trakai, and a new Klaipėda Lyceum school building project worth over 12 million euros was announced.

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Government Spending and Fiscal Outlook

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius has publicly criticized the unacceptable spending on a ministry party, a revelation following an investigation into various ministries' expenses. Concurrently, the Prime Minister warned that the national budget deficit is likely to surpass 3% next year, with President Gitanas Nausėda's advisor indicating the President would support exceeding this limit to ensure adequate defense funding.

Defense and Security Developments

The return of US troops to Lithuania has been reported as positive news, though tempered by broader concerns about the European situation. In related defense efforts, Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas announced that the EU's 'Eastern Flank Guard' initiative will receive over 62 million euros in short-term funding.

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