Politics of Lithuania

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Lithuania

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Politics and government of
Lithuania



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Politics of Lithuania takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Lithuania is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system.

Executive power is exercised by the government, which is headed by the Prime Minister. Federal legislative power is vested in both the government and the unicameral Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament). Judicial power is vested in judges appointed by the President of Lithuania and is independent of executive and legislature power. The judiciary consists of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, and the Court of Appeal as well as the separate administrative courts. The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania established these powers upon its approval on October 25, 1992. Being a multi-party system, the government of Lithuania is not dominated by any single political party, rather it consists of numerous parties that must work with each other to form coalition governments.

Contents

[edit] History

Since Lithuania declared independence on March 11, 1990, it kept strong democratic traditions. Drawing from the interwar experiences, politicians made many different proposals that ranged from strong parliamentarism to a presidential republic with checks and balances similar to the United States. Through compromise, a semi-presidential system was settled[1]. In a referendum on October 25, 1992—the first general vote of the people since their declared independence—56.75% of the total number of voters supported the new constitution[2].

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. On April 11, 2006, Artūras Paulauskas was removed from the position of the Chairman of the Seimas [3]. Viktoras Muntianas was elected Chairman of the Seimas.

The government of 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 resigned on 31 May 2006.

[edit] Government

Government in Lithuania is made up of three branches originally envisioned by enlightenment philosopher Baron de Montesquieu: executive, legislative, and judicial. Each branch is separate and is set up to do checks and balances on each other branch.

[edit] Executive branch

The executive branch of the Lithuanian government consists of a President, a Prime Minister, and the President's Council of Ministers. It is in charge of running the government.

[edit] President

The President of Lithuania is the head of state of the country, elected directly for a five-year term. The president can serve maximum of two terms consecutively. The President also serves as the commander-in-chief and oversees foreign and security policy. The President, with the approval of the Seimas, is first responsible of appointing the Prime Minister. Upon the Prime Minister's nomination, the President also appoints, under the recommendation of the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers (13 ministries), as well as a number of other top civil servants and the judges for all courts. The President of the Republic addresses political problems of foreign and domestic affairs, proclaims state of emergency, considers the laws adopted by the Seimas, and performs other duties specified in the Constitution[3].

President Valdas Adamkus has been the head-of-state since July 12, 2004, who followed interim President Artūras Paulauskas after former President Rolandas Paksas was impeached in April 2004 for leaking classified information. Adamkus had previously served a term as Lithuanian President from 1998 to 2003, but lost to Paksas who also ran for President.

[edit] Prime Minister

The Prime Minister of Lithuania is the head of government of the country, appointed by the President and approved by the Seimas. The Prime Minister, within 15 days of being appointed, is responsible for choosing Ministers for the President to approve to each of the 13 Ministries. In general, the Prime Minister is in charge of the affairs of the country, maintains homeland security, carries out laws and resolutions of the Seimas and decrees of the President, maintains diplomatic relations with foreign countries and international organizations, and performs other duties specified in the Constitution[3].

[edit] Council of Ministers

Similar to the cabinet of other nations, the Council of Ministers consists of 13 Ministers chosen by the Prime Minister and appointed by the President. Each Minister is responsible for his or her own Ministry of the Lithuanian government and must give reports on his or her Ministry when directed to[4]. The different Lithuanian Ministries are litsed below. When the Prime Minister resigns or dies, the position is to be filled as soon as possible and the new leader will appoint a new Government.

[edit] Current office holders

Main office holders
Office Name Party Since
President Valdas Adamkus none July 12, 2004
Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas LSDP July 6, 2006
Min. of Agriculture Kazimira Danutė Prunskienė VNDS July 12, 2006
Min. of Culture Jonas Jučas July 12, 2006
Min. of Economy Vytas Navickas July 12, 2006
Min. of Education & Science Roma Žakaitienė July 12, 2006
Min. of Environment Arūnas Kundrotas July 12, 2006
Min. of Finance Zigmantas Balčytis LSDP July 12, 2006
Min. of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas July 12, 2006
Min. of Health Rimvydas Turčinskas July 12, 2006
Min. of the Interior Raimondas Šukys July 12, 2006
Min. of Justice Petras Baguška July 12, 2006
Min. of National Defense Juozas Olekas July 12, 2006
Min. of Social Security & Labour Vilija Blinkevičiūtė July 12, 2006
Min. of Transport & Communications Algirdas Butkevičius July 12, 2006

[edit] Legislative branch

The parliament (Seimas) has 141 members that are elected for a 4-year term. About half of the members are elected in single-member districts (71), and the other half (70) are elected in the nationwide vote using proportional representation by party lists. A party must receive at least 5% of the national vote to be represented in the Seimas.

[edit] Political parties and elections

For other political parties see List of political parties in Lithuania. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Lithuania.
[discuss] – [edit]
Summary of the 13 June 2004 Lithuanian presidential election results
Candidates Nominating party 1st round 2nd round
Votes % Votes %
Valdas Adamkus Independent 387,837 30.7 723,891 52.6
Kazimiera Prunskienė Peasants and New Democratic Party Union 264,681 21.4 651,024 47.4
Petras Auštrevičius Independent 240,413 19.3 -
Vilija Blinkevičiūtė New Union Social Liberals 204,819 16.6 -
Česlovas Juršėnas Social Democratic Party of Lithuania 147,610 11.9 -
Source: Central Electoral Committee 1,245,360 100% 1,374,915 100%
[discuss] – [edit]
Summary of the 10 October 2004 Lithuanian Seimas election results
# Coalition Parties Votes % Seats
1 Labour Party (Darbo partija) 28.4 39
2 Coalition of Algirdas Brazauskas and Artūras Paulauskas "Working for Lithuania"
(Algirdo Brazausko ir Artūro Paulausko koalicija "Už darbą Lietuvai")
Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (Lietuvos socialdemokratų partija) 20.7 20
New Union Social Liberals (Naujoji sąjunga (socialliberalai)) 11
3 Homeland Union (Lithuanian Conservatives) (Tėvynės sąjunga/Lietuvos konservatoriai) 14.6 25
4 Coalition of Rolandas Paksas "For the Order and Justice"
(Rolando Pakso koalicija "Už tvarką ir teisingumą")
Liberal Democratic Party (Liberalų demokratų partija) 11.4 11
Lithuanian People's Union "For the Fair Lithuania" (Lietuvos liaudies sąjunga "Už teisingą Lietuvą")
5 Liberal and Centre Union (Liberalų ir centro sąjunga) 9.1 18
6 Peasants and New Democratic Party Union
(Valstiečių ir Naujosios demokratijos partijų sąjungos)
Lithuanian Peasants Party (Lietuvos valstiečių partija) 6.6 10
New Democratic Party (Naujosios demokratijos partija)
7 Election Action of Lithuania's Poles (Lietuvos lenkų rinkimų akcija) 3.8 2
8 Christian Conservative Social Union (Krikščionių konservatorių socialinė sąjunga) 2.0 -
9 Lithuanian Christian Democrats (Lietuvos krikščionys demokratai) 1.4 -
10 Non-partisans . 6
Source: Lithuanian Election Committee Total (turnout 46.8 %)   141

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

[edit] Judicial branch

The judges of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucinis Teismas) for a single nine year term are appointed by the Seimas from the candidates presented by the President (three judges), Chairman of Seimas (three judges) and the chairman of the Supreme Court (three judges).

[edit] Administrative divisions

Since 1994, with modifications in 2000, Lithuania is subdivided into 10 counties (Lithuanian: plural - apskritys, singular - apskritis), each named after their principal city (see: Counties of Lithuania). Counties are then subdivided into 60 municipalities (Lithuanian: plural - savivaldybės, singular - savivaldybė). Municipalities are further subdivided into over 500 elderships (Lithuanian: plural - seniūnijos, singular - seniūnija).

Counties are ruled by apskrities viršininkas (officially translated as "governor") who is appointed by the central government in Vilnius. Their primary duty is to ensure that the municipalities obey the laws and constitution of Lithuania. They do not have great powers vested in them. Municipality governments are elected in democratic elections of municipality councils held every 4 years. Municipality mayors are elected by the municipality councils. Also, municipality councils appoint elders to be in charge of an eldership.

[edit] International organization participation

Organization Acronym Date joined Notes
Bank for International Settlements BIS
Council of the Baltic Sea States CBSS Mar. 5, 1992
Council of Europe COE May 14, 1993
European Community EC
Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council EAPC
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD Jan. 30, 1992
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe ECE
European Union EU May 1, 2004
Food and Agriculture Organization FAO Nov. 9, 1991
International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA Nov. 18, 1993
World Bank IBRD July 6, 1992
International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO Sept. 27, 1991
International Chamber of Commerce ICC
International Criminal Court ICC
International Trade Union Confederation ITUC
International Finance Corporation IFC Mar. 21, 1992
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement IFRCS Nov. 17, 1991
International Labour Organization ILO Oct. 4, 1991
International Monetary Fund IMF Mar. 29, 1992
International Maritime Organization IMO Dec. 7, 1995
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization Intelsat (nonsignatory user)
International Criminal Police Organization - Interpol Interpol Nov. 4, 1991
International Olympic Committee IOC
International Organization for Migration IOM Nov. 28, 1995
International Organization for Standardization ISO Jan. 1, 1992 (correspondent)
International Telecommunication Union ITU Oct. 12, 1991
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation NATO Apr. 1, 2004
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons OPCW May 15, 1998
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe OSCE Sept. 10, 1991
United Nations UN Sept. 17, 1991
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Oct. 15, 1991
United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF Feb. 6, 1993
United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina UNMIBH
United Nations Mission in Kosovo UNMIK
Universal Postal Union UPU Jan. 10, 1992
World Customs Organization WCO June 18, 1992
Western European Union WEU (associate partner)
World Health Organization WHO Nov. 25, 1991
World Intellectual Property Organization WIPO Mar. 30, 1992
World Meteorological Organization WMO July 3, 1922
World Trade Organization WTO May 31, 2001

[edit] References

  1. ^ Lina Kulikauskienė, Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucija (Constitution of Lithuania), Native History, CD, 2002. ISBN 9986-9216-7-8
  2. ^ Nuo 1991 m. iki šiol paskelbtų referendumų rezultatai (Results from Refrenda 1991-Present), Microsoft Word Document, Seimas. Accessed June 4, 2006.
  3. ^ a b [1]
  4. ^ [2]

[edit] External links