Politics of Lithuania

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.

[1] In a referendum on 25 October 1992, the first general vote of the people since their declared independence, 56.75% of the total number of voters supported the new constitution.

[6] All major political parties declared their support for Lithuania's membership in NATO and the European Union (EU).

His proposed prime minister was Rolandas Paksas, whose government got off to a rocky start and collapsed within seven months.

Brazauskas decided not to remain in office as acting prime minister, and announced that he was finally retiring from politics.

[10] Even so, he led the ruling Social Democratic Party of Lithuania for one more year, until 19 May 2007, when he passed the reins to Gediminas Kirkilas.

The ruling Social Democrats, led by Lithuania's Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevciu, lost heavily and secured just 17 seats.

[14] In October 2020, conservative opposition Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) won parliamentary elections with 50 seats.

[15] In November 2020, Ingrida Šimonytė became new prime minister, after forming a centre-right coalition government of her TS-LKD and two liberal parties.

[16] Government in Lithuania is made up of three branches originally envisioned by enlightenment philosopher Baron de Montesquieu: executive, legislative, and judicial.

If fewer than half of voters participate, a candidate can win outright with a plurality and at least one third of the total vote.

[20] In 2019, Gitanas Nauseda won Lithuania's presidential runoff election after his opponent Ingrida Šimonytė conceded.

[21] The prime minister of Lithuania is the head of government of the country, appointed by the president and approved by the Seimas.

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.