THE END OF "NORMAL TIMES" OR A "NEW NORMAL"? My Experience as the Minister of Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania

The past decade in Europe has been marked by recurring crises that have reshaped economies, societies, and policymaking. This paper reflects on the experience of leading Lithuania's Ministry of Economy and Innovation during three major disruptions between 2020 and 2024: the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese coercive trade measures, and energy price inflation following Russia's war in Ukraine. Drawing on first-hand observations, the paper identifies recurring patterns in crisis management, comprising three successive stages-shock and uncertainty; liminality, or temporary measures to buy time; and the implementation of long-term solutions. It argues that while each crisis differed in nature, effective management consistently depended on decisive leadership, institutional cooperation, and the ability to transform challenges into opportunities for structural change. The Lithuanian case demonstrates that diversification, adaptive policymaking, and clear communication can sustain economic resilience even in an era where "normal times" no longer exist. The analysis concludes by outlining broader lessons for democratic governance in the age of permanent uncertainty.I began my political career as a city councillor in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, and went on to spend ten years in professional politics. This included serving for eight years as a member of parliament, founding and chairing the liberal party Laisvės partija (Freedom Party) with more than 3,000 members that later became a coalition partner, and serving as the Minister of Economy and Innovation from 2020 to 2024.The Lithuanian government I worked in was tested with the 'new normal' numerous times when I was in office, between the years 2020 and 2024. We dealt with COVID-19, Chinese coercive measures in bilateral trade, the illegal migration crisis from the Middle East, energy price inflation, and let alone, the war and instability in the neighbouring region with the whole package of disruptions involved.My experience as the cabinet minister is, of course, related to the case of one country-Lithuania. It involved global events and external actors; however, I understand that the small details of our national policy may not be particularly interesting to the foreign reader. Keeping all that in mind, I want to reveal the broader relevance of my experience. I am going to briefly cover three crises and how we addressed them in the government and at the Ministry of Economy and Innovation of Lithuania: COVID-19, Chinese coercive measures in bilateral trade, and energy price inflation that was caused by the Russian attack on Ukraine. These three events are the focus of this article.