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Labour Party (Lithuania)
Encyclopedia
The Labour Party or DP, is a centrist
political party
in Lithuania
. It was founded in 2003 by the Russia
n-born millionaire Viktor Uspaskich
.
In its first electoral test, the 2004 European Parliamentary Elections
, it was by far the most successful party gaining 30.2% of the vote and returning 5 MEPs
. It joined the European Democratic Party
and thus the group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
.
At the 2004 legislative elections
, the party won 28.4% of the popular vote and 39 out of 141 seats, making it the largest single party in the Parliament of Lithuania
. After the election Labour formed a coalition government with the Social Democrats
and New Union.
At the legislative elections
of 2008
the party that had entered into a coalition with the Youth party lost heavily, retaining only 10 seats in the Seimas
from its previous 39 and obtaining 9% of the national vote. As its other coalition partner, New Union (Social Liberals) also lost heavily, the coalition they were forming with the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania
collapsed. The party was left in opposition after a new centre-right
coalition, led by Andrius Kubilius
who became prime minister
for a second time, and formed of Homeland Union, National Resurrection Party
and Liberals' Movement of the Republic of Lithuania
took over, gaining a combined governmental majority of 72 out of 141 seats.
In 2011, the New Union (Social Liberals) merged with the party.
Centrism
In politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. It was founded in 2003 by the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-born millionaire Viktor Uspaskich
Viktor Uspaskich
Viktor Uspaskich is a Russian born Lithuanian entrepreneur, professional welder and politician.-Early life:He arrived in Lithuanian SSR in 1985 and worked as a welder in the gas industry...
.
In its first electoral test, the 2004 European Parliamentary Elections
European Parliament election, 2004 (Lithuania)
The European Parliament election of 2004 in Lithuania was the election of MEP representing Lithuania constituency for the 2004-2009 term of the European Parliament. It was part of the wider 2004 European election. The vote took place on June 13.-Results:...
, it was by far the most successful party gaining 30.2% of the vote and returning 5 MEPs
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
. It joined the European Democratic Party
European Democratic Party
The European Democratic Party is a centrist European political party in favour of European integration. It was initiated on April 16, 2004 and formally founded on December 9 in Brussels...
and thus the group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe is a transnational alliance between two European political parties: the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and the European Democratic Party. It has political groups in the European Parliament, the EU Committee of the Regions, the...
.
At the 2004 legislative elections
Elections in Lithuania
Elections in Lithuania gives information on election and election results in Lithuania.Lithuania elects on national level a head of state—the president—and a legislature. The president is elected for a five year term by the people...
, the party won 28.4% of the popular vote and 39 out of 141 seats, making it the largest single party in the Parliament of Lithuania
Seimas
The Seimas is the unicameral Lithuanian parliament. It has 141 members that are elected for a four-year term. About half of the members of this legislative body are elected in individual constituencies , and the other half are elected by nationwide vote according to proportional representation...
. After the election Labour formed a coalition government with the Social Democrats
Social Democratic Party of Lithuania
The Social Democratic Party of Lithuania is a centre-left and social democratic political party in Lithuania. It is the oldest party in Lithuania, founded in 1896. The party's president since 2009 is Algirdas Butkevičius. The party led a minority government in the unicameral Seimas, Lithuania's...
and New Union.
At the legislative elections
Elections in Lithuania
Elections in Lithuania gives information on election and election results in Lithuania.Lithuania elects on national level a head of state—the president—and a legislature. The president is elected for a five year term by the people...
of 2008
Lithuanian parliamentary election, 2008
A parliamentary election was held in Lithuania in two stages on 12 and 26 October 2008. A failed referendum on extending the operation of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant was held at the same time, despite the fact that Lithuania is obliged to close down Ignalina per its treaty of accession to the...
the party that had entered into a coalition with the Youth party lost heavily, retaining only 10 seats in the Seimas
Seimas
The Seimas is the unicameral Lithuanian parliament. It has 141 members that are elected for a four-year term. About half of the members of this legislative body are elected in individual constituencies , and the other half are elected by nationwide vote according to proportional representation...
from its previous 39 and obtaining 9% of the national vote. As its other coalition partner, New Union (Social Liberals) also lost heavily, the coalition they were forming with the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania
Social Democratic Party of Lithuania
The Social Democratic Party of Lithuania is a centre-left and social democratic political party in Lithuania. It is the oldest party in Lithuania, founded in 1896. The party's president since 2009 is Algirdas Butkevičius. The party led a minority government in the unicameral Seimas, Lithuania's...
collapsed. The party was left in opposition after a new centre-right
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
coalition, led by Andrius Kubilius
Andrius Kubilius
Andrius Kubilius is a Lithuanian politician who has been Prime Minister of Lithuania since 2008. He previously served as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2000. He is the leader of the conservative political party Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats.- Biography :Kubilius was born at Vilnius...
who became prime minister
Prime Minister of Lithuania
The Prime Minister of Lithuania is the head of the executive arm of Lithuania's government, and is chosen by the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas. The modern office of Prime Minister was established in 1990, although the official title was "Chairperson of the Council of Ministers" until 25...
for a second time, and formed of Homeland Union, National Resurrection Party
National Resurrection Party
National Resurrection Party was a centre-right political party in Lithuania. Founded in 2008, the party merged into the Liberal and Centre Union in 2011...
and Liberals' Movement of the Republic of Lithuania
Liberals' Movement of the Republic of Lithuania
The Liberal Movement , formally the Liberals' Movement of the Republic of Lithuania and abbreviated to LRLS, is a centre-right, liberal and conservative liberal political party in Lithuania....
took over, gaining a combined governmental majority of 72 out of 141 seats.
In 2011, the New Union (Social Liberals) merged with the party.