Government weighs proposal to slash payments for presidents’ spouses

“A law has been submitted and it does not provide for any annuities. State pensions are foreseen for presidents’ spouses,” Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius told reporters after the Government’s meeting.

The new law would also apply to Kristina Brazauskienė, the widow of former President Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas. She would not be entitled to a widow’s pension as she married Brazauskas in 2002, whereas he was the president of Lithuania in 1993-1998.

According to the prime minister, Brazauskienė would not be able to receive a presidential widow’s pension as she was not married to Brazauskas when he was the president.

Until now, the annuities for presidents’ surviving spouses amounted to 50 percent of the presidential wage, which was approximately €1,792 a month. If the Seimas (parliament) approves these amendments, presidents’ spouses would start receiving 15 percent of the presidential salary on 1 April 2016.

The Amendments to the Law on State Pensions stipulate that the pension for a president’s spouse would be awarded to a person who carried out certain functions established in state or diplomatic protocols during the president’s term in office for at least three years and who is eligible for a pension due to either age or work disability.