Raminta Popovienė

Raminta Popovienė is a Lithuanian politician and a member of the Seimas, representing the Social Democratic Party’s parliamentary faction.

„Lietuvos politikė, Lietuvos socialdemokratų partijos (LSDP) frakcijos Seime narė“

She was born on 5 May 1970 in the town of Zarasai, Lithuania.

„Date of birth | 5 May 1970 Place of birth | Zarasai, Lithuania“

Raminta Popovienė is married and has one child – a daughter named Radvilė.

„Šeima | Ištekėjusi, duktė Radvilė“

In 1994–1995, she earned a Master’s degree in Music Education from the Klaipėda Faculty of the Lithuanian Academy of Music.

„1994–1995 | Master’s in Music Education, Klaipėda Faculty, Lithuanian Academy of Music (currently Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy)“

From 1988 to 1994, she studied Music Education and Choir Conducting at the Lithuanian Academy of Music (Klaipėda Faculty), earning a diploma.

„1988–1994 | Diploma in Music Education and Choir Conducting, Klaipėda Faculty, Lithuanian Academy of Music“

From 2000 to 2007, Popovienė was the Chief Specialist in the Department of Culture, Education and Sports at the Kaunas District Municipality Administration.

„2000–2007 | Kauno rajono savivaldybės administracija, Kultūros, švietimo ir sporto skyrius, vyriausioji specialistė“

She worked as a teacher at Simonas Dachas Secondary School in Klaipėda (1995–1998) and at the Česlovas Sasnauskas Music School in Visaginas (1998–2000).

„1998–2000 | Visagino Česlovo Sasnausko muzikos mokykla, mokytoja 1995–1998 | Klaipėdos Simono Dacho vidurinė mokykla, mokytoja“

She served as Director of the Kaunas District Social Services Centre from 2007 to 2011.

„2007-2011 m. Kauno rajono socialinių paslaugų centras, direktorė“

In 2011–2012, she was the Deputy Director of the Administration of Kaunas District Municipality.

„2011-2012 m. Kauno rajono savivaldybės administracija, direktoriaus pavaduotoja“

From 2020 to 2022, Popovienė was the Acting Director of the Kaunas District Tourism and Business Information Centre.

„2020-2022 m. Kauno rajono Turizmo ir Verslo informacijos centro l.e. pareigas direktorė“

Raminta Popovienė served as a Member of the Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament) from 2012 until 2020, spanning the 2012–2016 and 2016–2020 terms.

„Nuo 2012 m. iki 2020 m. – Seimo narė“

She returned to the Seimas in the 2024–2028 term and has been a Member of the Seimas since 14 November 2024.

„Seimas 2024-2028 Member of the Seimas from 11/14/2024“

From 2023 to 2024, she served as the Deputy Mayor of Kaunas District Municipality.

„2023-2024 m. Kauno rajono savivaldybės vicemerė“

On 12 December 2024, Popovienė assumed office as the Minister of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania.

„Gruodžio 12 d., po priesaikos Seime, darbą pradėjo švietimo, mokslo ir sporto ministrė Raminta Popovienė.“

She also temporarily carried out the duties of the Minister of Culture until a new Culture Minister was appointed (during late 2024).

„Švietimo, mokslo ir sporto ministrė, einanti kultūros ministro pareigas, kol bus paskirtas naujas kultūros ministras“

Raminta Popovienė became a member of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) in 2013.

„Nuo 2013 m. | Lietuvos socialdemokratų partijos narė“

She serves as the first deputy chairperson of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party’s Kaunas District branch.

„LSDP Kauno rajono skyriaus pirmininko pirmoji pavaduotoja“

She is a deputy chairperson of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Women’s Union (LSDMS).

„LSDMS Pirmininkės pavaduotoja“

As a Seimas member, she initiated draft legislation to improve information accessibility for people with hearing impairments.

„Inicijavo įstatymo projektus klausos negalią turinčių asmenų informacijos prieinamumo didinimui, …“

She put forward a legislative proposal to preserve Kaunas District as a distinct administrative unit, amid proposals to merge parts of the district into Kaunas city.

„… Kauno rajono teritorinio administracinio vieneto išsaugojimui …“

In the Seimas term 2016–2020, Popovienė served as Deputy Chair of the Seimas Committee on Culture.

„Seimo Kultūros komiteto pirmininko pavaduotoja“

During 2016–2020, she was also a member of the Seimas Commission for the Affairs of People with Disabilities.

„Seimo Neįgaliųjų reikalų komisijos narė“

As of 2024, Popovienė is a member of the Seimas Committee on Education and Science.

„11/19/2024 | Committee on Education and Science, Member“

In the current (2024–2028) Seimas, Popovienė is a member of the Temporary Kaunas Region Parliamentary Group and the Women’s Parliamentary Group.

„2024-11-21 | Laikinoji Kauno krašto grupė, narė 2024-12-12 | Laikinoji Moterų grupė, narė“

As of late 2024, she has also joined numerous inter-parliamentary relations groups, including those for cooperation with Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Greece, Japan, the Nordic countries, Switzerland, Turkey, and Germany.

„2024-12-05 |... Japonija grupė, narė“

Popovienė was first elected to the Seimas in 2012, and she was re-elected in 2016 for the subsequent parliamentary term.

„Elected to the Seimas 2016—2020 Elected to the Seimas 2012—2016“

In the 2024 parliamentary elections, she won a seat in the Seimas from the Raudondvario single-member constituency (No. 65) as a candidate of the LSDP.

„Seimas 2024-2028 Nominated by: Lithuanian Social Democratic Party Elected: Raudondvario (No: 65) in the electoral constituency“

In 2011, Popovienė was elected to the Kaunas District Municipal Council, but she declined to assume the council seat (she did not take up the mandate).

„2011 m. Kauno rajono savivaldybės tarybos narė, išrinkta, bet atsisakė mandato.“

In the 2012 Seimas elections, Popovienė won a seat in Parliament by capturing the Kauno–Kėdainių single-member constituency (Electoral District No. 65) in the run-off voting.

„Raminta Popovienė (Kauno–Kėdainių ap.)“

Although she did not win in a single-member district in 2016, Popovienė was re-elected to the Seimas through the Social Democratic Party’s list in the multi-member constituency.

„2012–2020 m. kadencijų LR Seimo narė.“

In the 2020 parliamentary elections, Popovienė again stood as an LSDP candidate (she was listed among the top ten candidates of the party), but the Social Democrats won insufficient seats for her to secure a mandate that term.

„4. Orinta Leiputė 5. Vilija Targamadzė 6. Julius Sabatauskas 7. Dovilė Šakalienė 8. Raminta Popovienė 9. Algirdas Sysas 10. Robert Duchnevič“

In the 2024 parliamentary elections, Popovienė ran in the Raudondvaris single-member constituency and won in the run-off election with 53.06% of the vote (having led the first round with 30.02% of the vote).

„65. Raudondvario… 53,06 Raminta POPOVIENĖ (30,02%) … (dirst.lt%20%E2%80%A6))“

On the Social Democratic Party’s national candidate list in 2024, Popovienė was ranked as candidate number 27.

„Raminta POPOVIENĖ… LSDP 27 3. LSDP (24,41%) )“

During her early career as a school music teacher in the 1990s, Popovienė’s salary was very modest – only a few hundred Lithuanian litai per month (around $100). For context, by 2005 the average monthly wage in the public sector was about 1,012 LTL net (approximately €290).

„trečiąjį 2005 m. ketvirtį sudarė 982,5 lito... valstybės sektoriuje – 1012,0 lito...“

As a municipal employee and later a social services center director in the 2000s, her earnings were aligned with typical public-sector pay scales. In the mid-2000s, a chief specialist or similar public servant position paid on the order of 1,000 litai net per month (~€290).

„valstybės sektoriuje – 1012,0 lito... (2005 m.)“

As a member of the Seimas, Popovienė receives a parliamentary salary set by law. After the 2024 pay raise, a rank-and-file Seimas member earns roughly €4,000 “in hand” (net) per month (about €6,500 gross).

„Seimo narių alga pakilo iki 4 tūkst. eurų į rankas... (2024-11-15)“

Like all high-ranking public officials in Lithuania, Popovienė must file annual asset and income declarations. These public filings (submitted to the State Tax Inspectorate) list her owned assets, savings, and any significant liabilities, ensuring transparency in her financial situation.

„Valstybinė mokesčių inspekcija (VMI)... paskelbė metinių gyventojų (šeimos) turto deklaracijų duomenis... prievolę turi įstaigų vadovai, valstybės politikai ir tarnautojai... viešai skelbiami... turto deklaracijų duomenys skirti viešumui ir skaidrumui užtikrinti“

At Popovienė’s initiative, the Kaunas District Women Entrepreneurs Club was established on 13 December 2022 to foster women’s entrepreneurship and mentorship.

„… idėja įkurti Kauno rajono verslių moterų klubą kilo Ramintai Popovienei, kai ji buvo KRTVIC laikinoji direktorė. … siekta suburti moteris bendramintes, … skatinti jų verslumą, … suteikti pagalbą norinčioms pradėti verslą.“

She initiated the Kaunas District Parents’ Club “Aug(in)ti gera,” which brings together parents and others concerned with children’s and youth health.

„Inicijavo Kauno rajono tėvų klubą „Aug(in)ti gera“, kurio tikslas burti tėvus ir visus, kuriems svarbi vaikų ir jaunimo sveikata. (lsdp.ltti%20gera%E2%80%9C))“

At her initiative, an annual art event called “Aš ir tu” (You and I) for children with disabilities has been organized for over a decade.

„Jos iniciatyva 11 metų organizuojamas dailės pleneras „Aš ir tu“ negalią turintiems vaikams.“

In early 2024, she launched an Easter campaign to fulfill the wishes of 20 financially struggling families in Kaunas District, an initiative intended to become a tradition.

„Šiais metais R. Popovienei kilo idėja suorganizuoti velykinę akciją ir įgyvendinti 20-ties Kauno rajone gyvenančių ir sunkiau finansiškai besiverčiančių šeimų svajones.“

She is also a volunteer with the Aurelija Makūnienė Charity and Support Fund, reflecting her ongoing community engagement.

„A. Makūnienės labdaros ir paramos fondo savanorė“

In mid-2025, she faced criticism after the ministry added extra points to national exam results; Popovienė refused to consider resignation, stating that the decision was not hers and that “in that situation we really saved a lot of youth.”

„ministrė Raminta Popovienė tikina nesvarstanti apie atsistatydinimą... sprendimas nėra mano... toje situacijoje mes tikrai išgelbėjome labai daug jaunimo““

Upon taking the ministerial office in 2024, Popovienė emphasized establishing a fair education system that guarantees equal opportunities for all children regardless of their location or family income.

„„Esminis mano ir Vyriausybės tikslas švietimo srityje – visiems Lietuvos žmonėms teisinga, lygias galimybes garantuojanti švietimo sistema. Visiems vaikams turi būti užtikrintos lygios galimybės mokytis,... nepriklausomai nuo jų gyvenamosios vietos ir tėvų finansinės padėties.““