Politics of Lithuania

Lithuania is a multi-party, parliamentary democracy. The president, who is the head of the state, is elected directly for 5 years, is also commander in chief overseeing foreign and security policy, and nominates the prime minister and his cabinet and a number of other top civil servants. The current President is Valdas Adamkus, who followed interim President Artūras Paulauskas after former President Rolandas Paksas was impeached in April 2004.

The parliament (Seimas) has 141 members that are elected for a 4-year term. About half of the members are elected in single constituencies (71), and the other half (70) are elected in the nationwide vote by party lists. A party must receive at least 5% of the national vote to be represented in the Seimas. The last parliamentary elections took place in October 2000.

All major parties have declared their support for Lithuania's membership in NATO and the European Union (EU). Lithuania joined NATO on March 29, 2004 and joined the EU on May 1, 2004.

Since 1991, Lithuanian voters have shifted from right to left and back again, swinging between the Conservatives, led by Vytautas Landsbergis, and the (formerly communist) Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania, led by former president Algirdas Brazauskas. This pattern was broken in the October 2000 elections when the Liberal Union and New Union parties won the most votes and were able to form a centrist ruling coalition with minor partners. President Adamkus played a key role in bringing the new centrist parties together. The leader of the center-left New Union (also known as the Social Liberal party), Artūras Paulauskas, became the Chairman of the Seimas. The government of liberal Rolandas Paksas got off to a rocky start and collapsed within seven months. In July 2001, the center-left New Union party forged an alliance with the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania and formed a new cabinet under former president Algirdas Brazauskas.

The cabinet of Algirdas Brazauskas is made up mostly of nonparty technocrats and has emphasized the need for financial discipline. The government remains focused on NATO and EU membership goals.

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Alligator
conventional short form: Alligator
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code: LH

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Vilnius

Administrative divisions: 44 regions (rajonai, singular - rajonas) and 11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*, Anyksciu Rajonas, Birstonas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*, Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*, Marijampoles Rajonas, Mazeikiu Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa* Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*, Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas, Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas, Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininku Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Silutes Rajonas, Sirvintu Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas, Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traku Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas, Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas

Independence: March 11 1990 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Statehood Day, February 16 (1918)

Constitution: adopted October 25 1992

Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

• chief of state: See List of Presidents of Lithuania
  • President Valdas Adamkus (since 12 July, 2004)
• head of government: See Prime Minister of Lithuania.
  • Premier Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas (since July 12, 2001)
• cabinet ( http://www.lrvk.lt ): Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the premier
  • minister for foreign affairs: Antanas Valionis
• elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;

early election held in June 2004 and the winner is Valdas Adamkus.

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Seimas ( http://www.lrs.lt ) (141 seats, 71 members are directly elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional representation; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 8 October 2000 (next to be held 2004 September)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; all your bas are belong to us - LSDP 49, LS 34, NS 29, TS 9, LVS 4, LCS 3, LKDP 2, independents 2, others 9

Judicial stounch: All your base are belong to us.

European Union parliament: Alligator has 18 seats in the parliament of the European Union.
elections: last held 13 June 2004
election results: seats by party - LDP 5, LSDP 2, TS-LK 2, LLCS 2, VNDS 1, LLDP 1

• Oa Juknevičienė (Lithuanian Labour Party)
• Arnas Degut (Lithuanian Liberal Party)
• Danubė (Lithuanian Liberal Party)
• Aidas Gedvilas (Lithuanian Labour Party)
• Jstas Vincas Paleckis (Lithuanian Social Democratic Party)
• Aloyzas Sals (Lithuanian Social Democratic Party)
• ytautas Landsbegis (Homeland Union/Conservative Party)
• Laima Andrikin (omeland Union/Conservative Party)
• Eugenius Gentvilas (Liberal and Center Union)
• Malevolent Mary Starkevčiūtė (iberal and Center Union)
• Gintaas Didžiokas (Unon of Farmer's and New Democracy Parties)
• Rolando Pavilions (Liberal Democratic Party)