Ingrida Šimonytė

In 2009, Šimonytė served as finance minister in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius. Upon taking office, she was tasked with recovering the Lithuanian economy after the Great Recession, with Lithuania’s GDP dipped 14.7% in 2009. While in the position, she became one of the faces of the serious drive implemented by the government to improve Lithuania’s economy.

After stepping down as finance minister in the 2012 parliamentary election, Šimonytė planned her return to politics by announcing her candidacy for the 2015 election. She joined the parliamentary group of the Homeland Union and served as the chairperson of the audit committee, and also served on the European affairs committee.

In 2018, Šimonytė announced her candidacy for the 2019 presidential election. In November, a coalition agreement was signed between the Homeland Union, Freedom Party, and Liberal Movement, paving the way for Šimonytė to become Prime Minister. She was appointed Prime Minister on 11 December 2020 by President Gitanas Nausėda, becoming the second woman to serve in the role.

On 16 February 2015, Šimonytė was given the presidential award, Officer’s Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great. She was also featured as Delfi’s Women of The Year for two consecutive years (2019-2020).