Despite several challenges, the coalition government remained stable. In the first half of 2021, it faced the immediate task of vaccinating the population against COVID-19. Pandemic measures like the vaccine passport sparked a series of anti-establishment protests. In the summer of 2021, an EU-Belarus border crisis unfolded as hundreds of migrants from the Middle East and Africa began crossing into Lithuanian territory. The government responded with a pushback policy that drew criticism from human rights organizations.
The start of Russia’s war against Ukraine in February 2022 prompted Lithuania’s parliament to declare a state of emergency and to unanimously support the government’s decision to increase defense spending. The surge in energy and gas prices due to the war, along with increasing inflation, have placed a strain on the population. In response, the government implemented an extensive mitigation package.
The government managed to initiate some of its planned reforms, particularly the reform of public administration and the revamping of secondary education. However, the introduction of same-sex marriage failed. Relatively high levels of socioeconomic inequality, a looming “middle-income trap” and corruption remain pressing issues for the government.
