Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union

Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union Lietuvos valstiečių ir žaliųjų sąjunga
Abbreviation	LVŽS
Chairman	Ramūnas Karbauskis
First Vice Chairman	Bronis Ropė
Vice Chairpeople	Rima Baškienė Kęstutis Mažeika Arvydas Nekrošius Aušrinė Norkienė Mindaugas Puidokas Viktoras Rinkevičius Virginijus Sinkevičius Andriejus Stančikas Tomas Tomilinas Povilas Žagunis
Founded	2001 (Union of Peasants and New Democratic Parties)
Preceded by	Lithuanian Peasants Party New Democracy Party
Headquarters	Pamėnkalnio g. 26, Vilnius
Membership	4,850
Ideology	Centrism[1] Technocracy[2] Agrarianism[1][3] Green politics Green conservatism Economic liberalism[4]
Political position	Centre[5] to Centre-right[2]
International affiliation	None
European Parliament group	The Greens–European Free Alliance
Colours	Green
Seats in the Seimas	56 / 141
Seats in the European Parliament	1 / 11
Cabinet of Lithuania	11 / 14
Municipal councils	147 / 1,526
Mayors	3 / 60
Website
www.lvzs.lt/lt/
Politics of Lithuania Political parties Elections

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The Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (Lithuanian: Lietuvos valstiečių ir žaliųjų sąjunga, LVŽS; also known as Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union, formerly Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union, Lithuanian: Lietuvos valstiečių liaudininkų sąjunga, LVLS) is an agrarian political party in Lithuania led by industrial farmer Ramūnas Karbauskis.

History

In February 2006, the Peasants and New Democratic Party Union led by Lithuanian politician Kazimiera Prunskienė chose to rename itself after the pre-war Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union. It had previously been known as "Valstiečių ir Naujosios demokratijos partijų sąjunga", or VNDS, which translates to the "Peasants and New Democratic Party Union" or "Union of Peasants and New Democratic Parties". This name stemmed from its origin as an electoral alliance between the Lithuanian Peasants Party (Lietuvos valstiečių partija) and the New Democratic Party (Naujosios demokratijos partija), which merged to form the Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union.

It changed its name to Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union in January 2012.^[1]

After successful performance in the 2016 elections, a clarification about its English name format was issued, changing it to Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union.^[6]

Electoral results

In the 2004 European Parliamentary Elections, the party gained 7.4% of the vote and won one MEP, who joined the Union for Europe of the Nations group.

Its candidate Kazimiera Prunskienė gained 21.4% of the vote in the first round and 47.4% in the second round in the presidential elections of 13 June 2004. At the legislative elections on 10 October 2004, the party won 6.6% of the popular vote and 10 out of 141 seats.

In the legislative elections of 2008, the party experienced heavy losses, retaining only 3 out of its previous 10 seats in the Seimas and 3.74% of the national vote, continuing the party's tenure in opposition.

In the 2009 European parliament election the party got a mere 1.82% and lost its representation.

In the 2012 Lithuanian parliamentary election the party got 3.88% of popular vote while losing two more MP's compared to last election, being represented by sole party member in main Lithuanian legislative body.

In the 2014 European parliament election the party secured 1 seat in the parliament gaining 6.25% of national vote. After the election party announced considering joining the European People's Party (EPP) group. However, the MEP, Bronis Ropė, instead joined The Greens–European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA).^[7]

In the 2016 Seimas election. The party came up from 1 seat to 54 seats in the parliament. They came in first place and have formed a coalition with the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania.

Current Members of the Seimas

Name

• 2001–2006: Peasants and New Democratic Party Union or Union of Peasants and New Democratic Parties (Valstiečių ir Naujosios demokratijos partijų sąjunga / VNDS)
• 2006–2012: Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union (Lietuvos valstiečių liaudininkų sąjunga / LVLS)
• 2012–2017: Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union (Lietuvos valstiečių ir žaliųjų sąjunga / LVŽS)
• 2017–present: Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (Lietuvos valstiečių ir žaliųjų sąjunga / LVŽS)

Notes

See also

• Union of Greens and Farmers (Latvia)

External links

• Official English web page