Parliamentary elections in Lithuania

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General democratic elections have been held in Lithuania since 1989.

System and procedure

Every four years Lithuania elects a new parliament , the Seimas , in equal, general and secret elections (Art. 55, lit. Constitution). Until July 2004, the second Sunday in October was set as the regular election day; this has been changed to a corridor of three months around the end of the current session (Art. 57, lit constitution and electoral law). Every Lithuanian citizen over the age of 18 is entitled to vote.

Of the 141 seats, 71 are assigned as direct seats and 70 as list places to political parties . The right to vote is thus a mixed system of majority voting and proportional representation , called the ditch voting system . The idea of ​​a clear majority in parliament associated with the majority vote has so far only been partially realized in Lithuania due to the fragmented political landscape.

In order to enter parliament via list places , a party must unite at least 5% of the valid votes (7% for an electoral list ). The minimum voter turnout for the list places is 25%. If the minimum turnout is not reached, new elections are scheduled within six months. If none of the candidates in a direct mandate receives an absolute majority in the first ballot, a run-off election will take place within two weeks between the two candidates who received the most votes in the first ballot. If the voter turnout is below 40%, a candidate must receive the votes of at least 20% of the eligible voters in the first ballot, otherwise there will also be a runoff. There is no minimum voter turnout in the runoff election.

If a member of parliament is free, the next candidate on the list moves up in the list, and by-elections take place in the case of direct seats. Every Lithuanian citizen who has reached the age of 25 and is not a member of the military or is committed to a foreign state by oath / pledge is eligible (Art. 56, lit. Constitution).

Similar to the situation in Germany, the parliament elects the prime minister (on the proposal of the state president ) and confirms the division of ministries . Early new elections are possible by a majority vote of the parliament (3/5 majority) or by order of the president if either the government does not find a majority for its government program in parliament or the parliament expresses mistrust of the government (Art. 58, lit. Constitution) . A successful vote of no confidence requires 71 votes. In addition to legislative work, Parliament appoints the highest judges, the Chief Auditor and the Chairman of the National Bank . It also sets the dates for the elections for the state president and in the municipalities.

development

As in all of the successor states of the Soviet Union , in Lithuania, after independence, a firm party structure and a substantive definition of the parties developed, although many parties tried to build on the tradition from the First Republic in the interwar period 1918–1940. Correspondingly often parties were founded, merged and renamed, just as parliamentarians often change parliamentary groups, are / become non-attached, or new parliamentary groups are created through separation or merger.

However, since the first parliamentary elections in the again independent Lithuania in 1992, there have never been any early elections, and every parliament has ended its term of office.

The following is a compilation of previous parliamentary elections and the resulting government coalitions.

1992 election

In the first elections in the again independent Lithuania, the parties that developed from the independence movement Sąjūdis suffer a heavy defeat. After the representatives of the Sąjūdis had a clear majority in the Supreme Soviet in 1990, the successor to the Communist Party of Lithuania, the Lithuanian Democratic Labor Party (LDDP) , now has an absolute majority of the seats.

Nevertheless, the sole government of the Social Democrats changes Prime Minister three times: while Lubys voluntarily handed over his office to Sleževičius after the presidential elections in the spring of 1993, the latter had to go to Mindaugas Stankevičius (1935 –2017) give way.

Result of the parliamentary elections in Lithuania in 1992
Political party be right Seats
number percent
Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania (LDDP) 817.332 43.98 73 (*)
The movement 393.502 21.17 30 (*)
Party of Christian Democrats of Lithuania (LKDP) 234,368 12.61 18th
Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) 112,410 6.05 8th
Lithuanian National Party "Young Lithuania" (LNPJL) 66,027 3.55 1
Lithuanian Centrist Movement (LCJ) 46,910 2.52 2
Lithuania's Union of Poles 39,773 2.14 4th
League of Lithuanian Nationalists (LTS) 36,916 1.99 4th
Others 111,348 5.99 0
Independent - - 1
total 1,858,586 100.00 141
voter turnout 1,919,027 75.29
Non-voters 630,925 24.71
Registered voters 2,549,952 -
Source:

Governments

December 1992 - March 1993 : Social Democrats (ex-communists)

71 (70) of 141 seats (*)
Prime Minister: Bronislovas Lubys

March 1993 - February 1996 : Social Democrats (ex-communists)

73 (74 then 72) out of 141 seats
Prime Minister: Adolfas Šleževičius

February 1996 - November 1996 : Social Democrats (ex-communists)

72 of 139 seats (last 67 of 133 seats)
Prime Minister: Laurynas Mindaugas Stankevičius (1935–2017)

(*) In three controversial constituencies (No. 22 Pajuris, No. 64 Sakiai and No.?) A re-election was scheduled, in which in April 1993 all three direct mandates of Sajudis fell to the LDDP. The constituency of Algirdas Brazauskas, who was elected president of the LDDP in February 1993, remains vacant until March 1995. Two other mandates of the LDDP were not filled in July and October 1995. As of March 1996, six other seats will not be filled (5 LDDP, 1 Sajudis), so that the Seimas ends the electoral term with 133 members.

4 Sąjūdis MPs move to other parliamentary groups (2 Christian Democrats, 1 People's Union, 1 Independent), the MP from the Independence Party moves to the Sąjūdis group.

1996 election

The second elections in independent Lithuania resulted in an overwhelming majority for the previous opposition, the Conservatives. Together with the Christian Democrats and the Liberals, they were able to form a stable government majority. Nevertheless, the government resigned in May 1999, at the height of the wave of privatization, after the newly elected President Valdas Adamkus , following the overwhelming opinion of the population, unofficially expressed his distrust of the Vagnorius government . Vagnorius' position was also weakened by differences of opinion with party leader Vytautas Landsbergis .

At the suggestion of the President, the mayor of Vilnius , Rolandas Paksas from the Conservative Party, who was very popular at the time , was elected Prime Minister by parliament with a large majority. However, after a short term in office, he resigned in October 1999 in the dispute over the privatization of the Mažeikių Nafta state oil refinery . His successor is his party colleague and chairman of the parliamentary group, Andrius Kubilius .

Result of the parliamentary elections in Lithuania in 1996
Political party be right Seats
number percent
Fatherland League (Conservatives of Lithuania) (TS (LK)) 409,585 31.34 70
Party of Christian Democrats of Lithuania (LKDP) 136.259 10.43 16
Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania (LDDP) 130,837 10.01 12
Lithuanian Center Union (LCS) 113,333 8.67 13
Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) 90,756 6.94 12
Lithuanian National Party "Young Lithuania" (LNPJL) 52,423 4.01 1
Lithuanian Women's Party (LMP) 50,494 3.86 1
Christian Democratic Union (KDS) 42,346 3.24 1
Electoral Action of the Poles of Lithuania (LLRA) 40,941 3.13 1
Lithuania's Alliance of National Minorities (LTMA) 33,389 2.55 0
League of Lithuanian Nationalists (LTS) 28,744 2.20 3
Liberal Union of Lithuania (LLS) 25,279 1.93 1
Lithuanian Peasant Party (LVP) 22,826 1.75 1
Lithuanian Union of Russians (LRS) 22,395 1.71 0
Union of Political Prisoners and Deportees (LPKTS) 20,580 1.57 1
Others 86,735 6.66 0
Independent - - 4th
total 1,306,922 100.00 137
voter turnout 1,374,673 52.92
Non-voters 1,222,857 47.08
Registered voters 2,597,530 -
Source:

(*) The October 1996 election must be repeated in four constituencies. In the necessary by-elections in March 1997, the Party of Poles won 1 direct mandate and a second went to the Center Union. In two constituencies, the required minimum voter turnout of 40% is not achieved in the first ballot, so the direct mandate (No. 10 - Naujoji Vilnia and No. 57 - Vilnius-Trakai) remains vacant. For the same reasons, the by-election of the direct mandate in constituency No. 26 (Nevežis) in November 1998 fails. In another by-election in December 1997, the Conservatives lose a mandate to an independent.

Government coalitions:

November 1996 - May 1999 : Conservatives and Christian Democrats

85 of 137 (139) seats
Prime Minister: Gediminas Vagnorius

May 1999 - October 1999 : Conservatives

59 of 138 seats
Prime Minister: Rolandas Paksas
Tolerance by Christian Democrats and Center Union (also represented in the cabinet)

November 1999 - October 2000 : Conservatives

59 of 138 seats
Tolerance by Christian Democrats
Prime Minister: Andrius Kubilius

Election of 2000

Distribution of seats
        
A total of 141 seats

After internal disputes between ex-Prime Minister Vagnorius and party leader Landsbergis and the controversial privatization of the state oil refinery Mažeikių Nafta , the Conservative Party loses the elections and only has 9 seats.

The electoral list A. Brazausko socialdemokratinė koalicija (A. Brazauskas' social democratic coalition) , formed by the two social democratic parties LSP and LDDP as well as the New Democracy and the Russian Party with 51 seats, emerged as the clear winner of the election, but it did come out contrary to expectations, not to a coalition with the social liberals under Artūras Paulauskas . Instead, liberals and social liberals are forming a government, Rolandas Paksas, who has since left the Conservative Party and joined the Liberal Union, becomes Prime Minister for the second time.

After differences of opinion between the two parties over economic policy, in particular the further privatization of state-owned companies, the social liberals terminated the coalition in June 2001 and formed a new government with the social democrats. Algirdas Brazauskas will be the new Prime Minister.

Result of the parliamentary elections in Lithuania in 2000
Political party be right Seats
number percent
Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) (1) 457.294 31.08 51
New Union (Social Liberals) (NS) 288,895 19.64 28
Liberal Union of Lithuania (LLS) 253,823 17.25 33
Fatherland League (Conservatives of Lithuania) (TS (LK)) 126,850 8.62 9
Christian Democratic Union (KDS) 61,583 4.19 1
Lithuanian Peasant Party (LVP) 60,040 4.08 4th
Party of Christian Democrats of Lithuania (LKDP) 45.227 3.07 2
Lithuanian Center Union (LCS) 42,030 2.86 2
Moderate Conservative Union (NCP) 29,615 2.01 1
Electoral Action of the Poles of Lithuania (LLRA) 28,641 1.95 2
Lithuanian People's Union "For Lithuania Only" 21,583 1.47 0
Lithuania's Freedom Union (LLS) 18,622 1.27 1
Lithuanian National Party "Young Lithuania" (LNPJL) 16,941 1.15 1
League of Lithuanian Nationalists (LTS) (2) 12,884 0.88 0
Social Democracy 2000 7,219 0.49 0
Union of Modern Christian Democrats (MKDS) - - 3
Independent - - 3
total 1,471,247 100.00 141
voter turnout 1,539,743 58.63
Non-voters 1,266,578 41.37
Registered voters 2,626,321 -

(1) The LSDP entered for election to a coalition with the LDDP , the LRS and the NDP at
(2) The LTS entered for election to a coalition with the LLL at

Source: Official website of the Seimas

Government coalitions:

November 2000 - June 2001 : Liberal Union, Social Liberals, Center Union, Modern Christian Democrats, Poland Party

68 out of 141 seats
Prime Minister: Rolandas Paksas

July 2001 - October 2004 : Social Democrats, Social Liberals, New Democracy

80 of 141 seats
Prime Minister: Algirdas Brazauskas

2004 election

Distribution of seats
        
A total of 141 seats

After numerous party foundations in the run-up to the elections and great dissatisfaction among the population with the parties, which were still poorly regarded despite the economic upswing, the newly founded, populist Labor Party under the leadership of Viktor Uspaskich came out on top . After the latter resigns from the office of Prime Minister (and is satisfied with the Ministry of Economic Affairs), the way is clear for a coalition with social democrats / social liberals, which A. Brazausko ir A. Paulausko koalicija "Už darbą Lietuvai" (A. Brazauskas 'and A. Paulauskas' coalition "Work for Lithuania").

The coalition collapses after just one and a half years in the affairs surrounding Uspaskich, a self-made entrepreneur who is viewed very critically in the Lithuanian political establishment due to his Russian origins . The Labor Party he founded, but no longer led, leaves the governing coalition. Previously, some members of the Labor Party founded the Citizens' Democracy Party , which is part of a minority government led by the Social Democrats and tolerated by the Conservatives. In April 2006 the social liberals left the government after the successful vote of no confidence in their party chairman, incumbent parliamentary chairman Paulauskas, who was also supported by numerous members of the governing coalition.

Result of the parliamentary elections in Lithuania in 2004
Political party be right Seats
number percent
Labor Party (DP) 340.035 28.44 39
Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) (1) 246,852 20.65 31
Patriotic Union (TS (LK)) 176,409 14.75 25th
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 135,807 11.36 10
Liberal and Center Union (LiCS) 109,872 9.19 18th
Union of the Peasant Party and the New Democracy Party (VNDS) 78.902 6.60 10
Electoral Action of the Poles of Lithuania (LLRA) 45,302 3.79 2
Others 62,476 5.22 0
Independent - - 6th
total 1,195,655 100.00 141
voter turnout 1,228,653 46.08
Non-voters 1,437,543 53.92
Registered voters 2,666,196 -
(1) The LSDP entered for election to a coalition with the NS to
Source: Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Lithuania

as an example of the numerous changes in parliamentary groups during a legislative period :

Labor Group in the Seimas:

November 2004: 41 seats (+1 Independent / +1 Liberal Democrat)
December 2005: 39 seats (-2 to independents)
May 2006: 31 seats (−7 to the newly founded "Bürgerdemokratie" parliamentary group, −1 non-attached)
October 2006: 25 seats (-4 to Social Democrats / -2 Peasant Party)
October 2007: 24 seats (-1 to Liberal Democrats)
December 2007: 23 seats (−1 to the Liberal Center Union)

In the same period of time the group of social democrats increased from 20 to 38 (!) Members:

5 directly from the Labor Party, first 3 then another 5 from the Citizens' Democracy (all ex-Labor Party), 2 Liberal Democrats, 2 Liberals, 1 Social Liberals

Furthermore, the Liberal faction splits up: 9 MPs form the "Liberal Union", the cornerstone for the newly founded party of the Liberal Movement .

Government coalitions:

November 2004 - July 2006 : Labor Party, Social Democrats, Social Liberals, Peasant Party, Poland Party

82 of 141 seats
Prime Minister: Algirdas Brazauskas

July 2006 - January 2008 : Social Democrats, Peasants 'Party, Citizens ' Democracy (split from Labor Party), Poland Party, Liberals and Center Union ( 9 seats after splitting off from the Liberal Movement )

59 of 141 seats
Tolerance by conservatives (26 seats)
Prime Minister: Gediminas Kirkilas

January 2008 - November 2008 : Social Democrats, Peasant Party, Citizens ' Democracy , Social Liberals, Liberals and Center Union

71 of 141 seats
Prime Minister: Gediminas Kirkilas

2008 election

Distribution of seats
          
A total of 141 seats

The election for the Seimas took place in two rounds, on October 12th and 26th, 2008 (runoff election to the 68 direct seats not yet awarded in the first ballot). The results showed a clear loss of the previous governing parties in favor of the conservatives. Three of the four parties in the governing coalition, the Social Liberals, the Peasant Party and the Democratic Citizens' Party, clearly missed the 5% hurdle and only entered parliament through direct mandates (3 for the Peasant Party, 1 for the Social Liberals). The dissatisfaction with the (party) political system in large parts of the population (keyword: corruption and self-interest of parliamentarians / parties) was once again clearly visible: the Resurrection Party , which was founded only six months earlier and led by political newbies, came out of the picture of the people to 15% of the vote, making it the second strongest political force in Lithuania (by share of the vote).

Immediately after the election, four parties from the liberal-conservative spectrum announced their will to form a coalition: in addition to the election winner Patriotic Union (Conservatives) , the Liberal and Central Union , the Liberal Movement and the People's Resurrection Party , which was newly represented in parliament . The coalition negotiations were brought to a successful conclusion at the end of November.

Result of the parliamentary elections in Lithuania in 2008
Political party be right Seats
number percent
Fatherland League - Christian Democrats of Lithuania (TS-LKD) 243,823 19.72 45
People's Resurrection Party (TPP) 186,629 15.09 16
Order and Justice (TT) 156,777 12.68 15th
Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) 144,890 11.72 25th
Labor Party (DP) (1) 111.149 8.99 10
Liberal Movement of the Republic of Lithuania (LRLS) 70,862 5.73 11
Liberal and Center Union (LiCS) 66,078 5.34 8th
Electoral Action of the Poles of Lithuania (LLRA) 59,237 4.79 3
Association of Peasants and People's Party of Lithuania (LVLS) 46.162 3.73 3
New Union (Social Liberals) (NS) 45,061 3.64 1
Others 106.048 8.57 0
Independent - - 4th
total 1,236,716 100.00 141
voter turnout 1,309,965 48.59
Non-voters 1,386,125 51.41
Registered voters 2,696,090 -
(1) The DP came for election to a coalition with the jaunimas to
Source: Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Lithuania

With the constitution of the parliament on November 17th, two independents joined the parliamentary group of the People's Resurrection Party, one from the Liberal and Center Union and one from the Social Democrats. The three MPs of the Party of Poles joined the faction of the Party of Order and Justice. The governing coalition now has 83 mandates. In May 2009, the government majority grew by one vote when the social liberal MP joined the TPP parliamentary group.

2012 election

Distribution of seats
         
A total of 140 seats

The parliamentary elections took place on October 14, 2012 and October 28, 2012.

Result of the parliamentary elections in Lithuania 2012
Political party be right Seats
number percent
Labor Party (DP) 271,520 19.82 29
Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) 251.610 18.37 38
Fatherland League - Christian Democrats of Lithuania (TS-LKD) 206,590 15.08 33
Liberal Movement of the Republic of Lithuania (LRLS) 117,476 8.57 10
Way of Courage (DK) 109,448 7.99 7th
Order and Justice (TT) 100,120 7.31 11
Electoral Action of the Poles of Lithuania (LLRA) 79,840 5.83 8th
Association of Peasants and Greens of Lithuania (LVŽS) 53,141 3.88 1
Others 122,245 13.15 0
Independent - - 3
total 1,312,090 100.00 140
voter turnout 1,370,014 52.93
Non-voters 1,218,404 47.07
Registered voters 2,588,418 -
Source: Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Lithuania

Government coalition:

Since December 2012: Social Democrats (ex-communists), Liberal Democrats, Darbo partija, LLRA

Prime Minister: Algirdas Butkevičius

Election of 2016

Distribution of seats
           
A total of 141 seats

The parliamentary elections took place on October 9, 2016 and October 23, 2016.

Result of the parliamentary elections in Lithuania 2016
Political party be right Seats
number percent
Fatherland League - Christian Democrats of Lithuania (TS-LKD) 276.275 21.70 31
Association of Peasants and Greens of Lithuania (LVŽS) 274.108 21.53 54
Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) 183,597 14.42 17th
Liberal Movement of the Republic of Lithuania (LRLS) 115,361 9.06 14th
Anti-Corruption Alliance (AKK) 77.114 6.06 1
Electoral Action of the Poles of Lithuania (LLRA) 69,810 5.48 8th
Order and Justice (TT) 67,817 5.33 8th
Labor Party (DP) 59,620 4.68 2
Others 97.183 11.74 2
Independent - - 4th
total 1,220,885 100.00 141
voter turnout 1,273,427 50.64
Non-voters 1,241,230 49.36
Eligible voters 2,514,657 -
Source: Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Lithuania

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania on lrs.lt, accessed January 11, 2018.
  2. ↑ [1]
  3. ↑ In the parliamentary elections in 2000, a simple majority in the first ballot was sufficient
  4. ^ Lithuanian Electoral Law , Articles 88 (direct mandates) and 89 (election by list), accessed October 18, 2012
  5. ↑ Lithuania: Parliamentary Election 1992 European Election Database (English)
  6. ↑ Lithuania: Parliamentary Election 1996 European Election Database (English)
  7. ↑ Official result of the parliamentary election 2000 ( Memento of the original from August 8, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Official website of the Seimas (English) @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www3.lrs.lt
  8. ↑ Official result of the 2004 parliamentary elections Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Lithuania (Lithuanian)
  9. ↑ Official result of the 2008 parliamentary elections Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Lithuania (Lithuanian)
  10. ↑ Official result of the parliamentary elections 2012 Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Lithuania (Lithuanian)
  11. ↑ Official result of the 2016 parliamentary elections Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Lithuania (English, Lithuanian)
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