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Inaugural Address by the President Gitanas Nausėda at the Seimas
12 July 2024
Dear Fellow People of Lithuania,
Madam Speaker of the Seimas, Madam Prime Minister,
Esteemed Presidents,
Distinguished Members of the Seimas,
Dear Guests,
In the five years between the first and the second oath, we have achieved a great deal together. We have strengthened the state. Throughout all the crises and upheavals, we have not only preserved its economy but also extended a helping hand to the people, securing their jobs and incomes. We have reduced exclusion. We are building a Lithuania that cares for those who need care and assistance the most today.
Though we have often argued, we created a stronger, fairer, greener, more innovative Lithuania.
Unfortunately, in those five years, the world has moved closer to the abyss. It has moved faster, further and more dangerously than any of us could have anticipated. What seemed impossible in 2019 has become a new reality.
By developing technologies such as artificial intelligence, humanity today stands on the verge of a major technological turning point. This turning point will transform science and industry, the labor market and human interaction.
At the same time, humanity stands on the brink of self-destruction. Climate change, pandemics and war – over the last five years, we have witnessed many realistic scenarios of humanity obliterating itself or returning to the Dark Ages, where might makes right and history is written by the more brutal.
In today's world, Lithuania is not a safe and quiet retreat.
Just 600 kilometers from Vilnius, Ukraine is in the third year of a war the likes of which Europe has not seen in 80 years.
Just a few dozen kilometers away is the unsafe Astravas nuclear power plant.
Our state, whose territorial integrity and independence we have sworn to protect, borders two of the most dangerous countries in Europe.
But we have the courage and determination of our people, the strength of our friends, and the most precious resource that Ukraine has won for all of us – time – to prepare properly.
Therefore, at this moment of existential danger to Lithuania, national security will be one of my most important tasks as President. Because if there is no state, there is nothing.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, as I look ahead to 2029, I see Lithuania as a model for all of NATO in strengthening defense. Defense funding has exceeded 3.5 percent of GDP for several years and is now approaching 4 percent, enabling us to implement long-range air defense plans. The Baltic coast is protected by a missile shield and engineered fortifications guard the land borders.
In 2029, Lithuania will be completing the development of its division’s core capabilities and conducting exercises with a German brigade and a U.S. battalion stationed in our country. The new division will be equipped with long-range HIMARS artillery, the latest tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and Lithuanian-made drones.
The traditional Thunder Bastion drills will involve companies responsible for vital state functions, ranging from food production to logistics, alongside newly formed and trained commandant resistance units. In 2029 the people of Lithuania are acutely aware that we have but one state, and everyone must be prepared to defend it.
We must begin moving in this direction today. The first decisive steps have been taken, but the final result will depend on the speed of our actions.
A secure and strong Lithuanian state is not only about tanks and missiles, combat vehicles and drones. We are only as strong as our determination and our ability to effectively inspire friends and allies. In the near future, we will have to work even harder on this. We need a persistent, consistent and sustained foreign policy.
We all need a free and democratic Europe that preserves historical memory, fights disinformation and counters attempts to rewrite history.
Relations with the United States will always be Lithuania’s highest strategic priority.
Without the United States’ involvement, Europe cannot remain united or secure. European security depends first and foremost on the strength of the transatlantic bond. Lithuania has been and will continue to be a staunch supporter of strong transatlantic ties and their indispensability. I will do everything I can to ensure that the United States’ focus on Lithuania and our region does not waver. The continued presence of U.S. military forces in Lithuania will remain the strongest and most credible deterrent.
Over the past five years, I have built relationships based on respect, trust and often personal friendship with the leaders of many countries and organizations.
Our relations with Poland, I would say, are the best they have been in the last 15 years. I believe they will continue to be so. Together we are working within the Three Seas Initiative and to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank.
Having received a second mandate from the people, I will continue the work started in developing bilateral relations with allies and partners, as well as defending Lithuania’s interests in multilateral NATO and European Union forums. Strengthening the security and defense of Lithuania and the entire Baltic region will remain my primary focus.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
No matter how large the Lithuanian Armed Forces are and regardless of how many friends and allies we have, we will only be as strong as we are united here in Lithuania. Therefore, for me, building a welfare state and reducing all forms of exclusion is not only a matter of justice but also of national security.
Some say that the fight against exclusion is tiring or futile. Try telling that to the people of Lithuania! It would be cruel to say such things to those who are hurting and trying to get out of poverty or avoid falling into it. Our seniors, people with disabilities, families raising children, especially single parents, and those in rural areas certainly deserve better.
It is absolutely clear today that policies to reduce exclusion and inequality cannot be left to chance. Automatic market forces, on the contrary, only increase disparities.
Reducing exclusion ensures a dignified life for all segments of society and fosters innovation and creativity, enabling people to develop their talents and realize their ideas. Reducing exclusion improves public health by making it easier for people to access health care, education and other essential services, and to remain productive longer. Reducing exclusion contributes to political stability by diminishing social tensions. Reducing exclusion creates a more sustainable future for us all by ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to develop and contribute to the well-being of society.
In an aging society, much will depend on our ability to ensure a decent life for the oldest members of society. We must better define the rights of the elderly, support them with public services, and expand health care and health promotion, lifelong learning and long-term care. I will initiate and support proposals to ensure that the income of seniors continues to grow every year, at least up to the European Union average.
So far, we have given only fragmented attention to the needs of families. We need to move from a haphazardly administered family policy to a targeted, well-coordinated and comprehensive policy with the ambitious goal of becoming the most family-friendly country in Europe. I will therefore seek a consensus among decision-makers on more favorable tax conditions and better access to public services, especially pre-school education, for families raising children. I will work to expand non-formal education programmes for children, thus alleviating the concerns of working parents about their children’s activities, and addressing issues such as children’s physical and emotional health, drug abuse, and other problems that lead to criminal activity. We must solve the problem of affordable housing through action, not empty words.
We do not have the right to physically isolate people in any way. We cannot put up with insurmountably steep stairs or inaccessible public information, nor with collapsing bridges, potholed gravel roads or buses that pass by without stopping every few days.
Today, transport in Lithuania, especially in the regions, is a serious problem. Therefore, in the next five years, we need to increase the level of investment in the country’s transport infrastructure. We need to consistently and sustainably increase funding and improve the roads. We need to ensure regular public transport routes in the regions. Finally, we must complete our integration into the European rail network and become a normal European Union country with railways that work and benefit society.
Overall, we need to rethink what “optimization” means and what it brings to Lithuania. We have optimized transport and schools, we are optimizing courts and public services, leaving people with empty buildings and a sense of irrelevance.
Again, we must see regional policy as an investment opportunity, not just as an administrative financial burden. Economically attractive jobs in the regions will not be created without quality public services, while public services are useless without residents to use them. Reversing the decades-long cycle of centralization will not be easy, but it can be done. All it takes is understanding and political will.
When we achieve a significant change in reducing various forms of exclusion, the country will see an increase in what is intangible but highly valuable. We will have a greater sense of justice. We will have even more incentives for citizens to believe, trust and defend the state.
Efforts to ensure that public institutions, officials and civil servants are truly accountable to the public can contribute to this.
In the administration of justice, appropriate legal, financial and procedural conditions must be in place to ensure that the professionalism and independence of judges are beyond doubt and that everyone who comes before the courts has confidence in them. Courts must be more open to the public and explain their decisions and reasoning. This is not only in the interest of the people but also in the interest of the courts themselves. Judges should work not only relying on their knowledge but also possess the necessary personal qualities and inner motivation.
The law must be equal for all. This can be ensured only by eliminating privileges for certain groups and by preventing them from claiming special treatment based on perceived uniqueness or merit.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we think about the future of our state, we will inevitably have to consider global issues.
Sooner or later, climate change will knock on every one of our doors. It is already knocking with devastating rains and unbearable heat waves, storms and hurricanes. Humanity is running out of time to stop these irreversible processes.
As a small country in area and population, Lithuania will not be able to change humanity’s footprint of global warming. But we must do everything to set an example for other countries. We must also do it for ourselves. After all, a green and clean Lithuania is a value for everyone.
In climate policy, Lithuania’s ambitions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 are significantly higher than those of the European Union. Let’s achieve them while maintaining and enhancing industrial competitiveness and innovation and moving faster than others towards circular production and consumption systems. Let’s reduce the excessive use of plastics – from stores to households.
Over the past five years, Lithuania has already set an example for Europe in the energy sector by breaking away from Russian fossil fuels. We have not only d
emonstrated that it is possible but we also help others to achieve energy independence.
We cannot stop now. The next five years will be crucial for transforming the energy sector and ensuring energy security in real terms, not just in words. The synchronization and integration of Lithuania’s electricity system with the European Union’s networks scheduled for February next year will mark a breakthrough in Lithuania’s energy sector. However, this will only be the beginning of a new path. We must learn to walk it without turning reforms into higher electricity bills for people.
To become a country self-sufficient in electricity by 2029, we must continue to invest consistently in renewable energy sources. This requires not only a regulatory framework that reflects economic realities, but also harmony between green project developers, local communities and consumers.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The world is changing faster than we can keep up. Artificial intelligence will reshape what we do and how we do it. Technological advances are already transforming everything – science, industry and even warfare.
Only those countries that can adapt will be strong and secure. We must be prepared for the uncertainty of the future. We must be able to change and adapt. To constantly improve.
Lithuania is not rich in minerals. You will not find rare metals here. But we have people. Hardworking people who want to work, create and succeed. They are Lithuania’s most valuable asset.
Therefore, focusing and investing in education, studies and science must be a priority for our country. We do not need loud words or lofty promises. We need the state to trust teachers and schools, we need more autonomy for local municipalities to make decisions, we need investment in teachers’ salaries and better working conditions. We need to see every child and provide them with fair and quality education.
In 2029, the education system of Lithuania must be sustainable and adaptive. There must be coherence between education levels and different types of educational institutions. From universal quality preschool education, which provides an important foundation for a child’s maturity and growth, to third-age universities. We must put an end to the chaotic process of reforms.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The challenge facing every country is economic growth. It fills public finances, creates the conditions for reducing social and regional disparities, provides a basis for improving public services for every citizen, and ensures national security.
The next five years will not be easy for the economy, and one word will be crucial: productivity.
Lithuania’s success in increasing productivity will determine the pace of economic development.
Therefore, in the coming years, I will be working to improve business access to finance. This is a major structural problem that we have been tackling step by step. We have established the National Development Bank and taken an important decision to borrow one billion euros from the European Commission on favorable terms for business investment. This is just the beginning of the road.
Another task is to significantly increase the National Development Bank’s financial resources and lending capacity to the economy.
After solving structural problems in business lending and increasing competitiveness through lower energy costs, we will be able to focus all our efforts on innovation.
Weare living in the age of artificial intelligence. Countries or groups of countries that boldly use AI to drive progress and manage emerging risks will be economic leaders for many long years.
Lithuania has demonstrated that although we are small in population, we are exceptionally rich in intellect. Our technology companies are well known and operate globally. Lithuanian lasers, life science products, green technologies, financial engineering, and advanced defense technologies are well-recognized Lithuanian success stories.
Can we create another major success story in the age of artificial intelligence? Absolutely.
Not only we can, but we also must.
Words alone will not get us there – we will need more investment in cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs, more investment in upgrading the skills of our workforce, a review of tax and other financial incentives, faster digitization of our industry, and encouragement of foreign capital inflows.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are living in a rapidly changing world. It’s difficult to get used to it. It’s challenging to prepare for it. In a constantly changing environment, each of us is looking for something stable to lean on. For me, the strongest and most important support is Lithuanian history and culture.
I am convinced that a country is strong to the extent that it relies on its history, knows and lives by its cultural rhythm and heritage. To the extent that it enables the expression and development of free creativity. To the extent that it provides space to present its creations to new generations. To the extent that it can reduce social, economic and territorial disparities through culture. One example of such a blend of cultural heritage and innovation that stands out to me is Finland.
We must not succumb to the virus of optimization. We must measure the power of culture, its organizational network and infrastructure not by economic indicators, but by indicators of meaning. This requires informed state action and the involvement of local governments. Municipal engagement, especially in big cities, is essential.
Just a week ago, Lithuania and Lithuanians worldwide sang and danced at the Centennial Song Festival. It’s a great time to start redirecting our priorities.
By promoting better understanding, love, appreciation, and protection of Lithuania, let us expand not only the network of roads but also the network of cultural routes. Let’s make museums, mansions and other cultural institutions more accessible to families, marginalized fellow citizens and people with disabilities. Let’s create the conditions for communities to develop networks that give meaning to the cultural and historical heritage of their regions. It seems to me that we are not yet fully aware of the extent of this heritage and how it can make us more attractive for tourism.
I have always strived – and will continue to strive – for us to appreciate the power of culture. For us to breathe culture. For us to use it with pride and promote the name of Lithuania in the world. When I talk about culture, I also think about our sports. Our attention cannot be limited to the calendar weeks before and after the Olympic Games or major championships!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The world and Lithuania are standing on the threshold of existential ruptures. Today, the question is whether we will manage not to cross the tipping point beyond which geopolitical processes, climate change or other unknown challenges will become uncontrollable.
It is not a privilege to perform the responsible duties of a head of state in such times. It is a tough daily job and a great challenge.
It is an enormous personal responsibility to the Nation that has entrusted me. And a mission for all of us to stand on the right side of history.
Today I took an oath to do that.
So help me God.
