Lithuanian parliamentary election, 1992
Encyclopedia
A parliamentary election was held in Lithuania
in two stages on 25 October and 15 November 1992. This first round of this parliamentary election was held simultaneously with a referendum on the adoption of the 1992 Constitution of Lithuania
. The members of the new Seimas
would replace the Supreme Council of Lithuania. The elections were held under the terms of the new Electoral Law adopted in July 1992, which provided for a mixed system and run-off elections in constituencies where the required majority was not attained. The election date had been set on 19 June.
70 MPs were elected on proportional party lists and 71 MPs in single member constituencies; in those constituencies where no candidate gained more than 50% of the vote on 25 October, a run-off
was held on 15 November.
The main challenger to the ruling Sajudis
nationalist movement, led by outgoing President of the Republic Vytautas Landsbergis
, was the (ex-communist) Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania (DLP) headed by Algirdas Brazauskas
. Sajudis – which had controlled the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania since February 1990 and spearheaded the move to independence – was criticized for the country’s economic woes, while the DLP called for a slowdown in the pace of change to a free-market system and improved relations with the Russian Federation. Altogether 24 parties and political movements contested the Seimas seats. Polling procedures were witnessed by international observers. As opposed to Estonia
, for example, suffrage was granted to Lithuania’s ethnic Russian minority.
The election was won by the Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania, which gained 73 seats and was itself surprised by the decisive outcome. Analysts attributed this victory, among other things, to the party’s support by the Russian and Polish minorities, farmers, as well as to popular anger about the economic crisis, in particular the fuel shortage since Russia, the main supplier, had cut off imports. Brazauskas assumed the title of Chairman of the Seimas. Brazauskas would go on to be elected President of Lithuania on 14 February 1993 in Lithuania's first presidential election. Sajudis
received 30 seats. On 1 December 1992, Bronislovas Lubys
was appointed Prime Minister
.
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...
in two stages on 25 October and 15 November 1992. This first round of this parliamentary election was held simultaneously with a referendum on the adoption of the 1992 Constitution of Lithuania
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
. The members of the new 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...
would replace the Supreme Council of Lithuania. The elections were held under the terms of the new Electoral Law adopted in July 1992, which provided for a mixed system and run-off elections in constituencies where the required majority was not attained. The election date had been set on 19 June.
70 MPs were elected on proportional party lists and 71 MPs in single member constituencies; in those constituencies where no candidate gained more than 50% of the vote on 25 October, a run-off
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
was held on 15 November.
The main challenger to the ruling Sajudis
Sajudis
Sąjūdis initially known as the Reform Movement of Lithuania, is the political organization which led the struggle for Lithuanian independence in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was established on June 3, 1988 and was led by Vytautas Landsbergis...
nationalist movement, led by outgoing President of the Republic Vytautas Landsbergis
Vytautas Landsbergis
Professor Vytautas Landsbergis is a Lithuanian conservative politician and Member of the European Parliament. He was the first head of state of Lithuania after its independence declaration from the Soviet Union, and served as the Head of the Lithuanian Parliament Seimas...
, was the (ex-communist) Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania (DLP) headed by Algirdas Brazauskas
Algirdas Brazauskas
Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas was the first President of a newly independent post-Soviet Union Lithuania from 1993 to 1998 and Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006....
. Sajudis – which had controlled the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania since February 1990 and spearheaded the move to independence – was criticized for the country’s economic woes, while the DLP called for a slowdown in the pace of change to a free-market system and improved relations with the Russian Federation. Altogether 24 parties and political movements contested the Seimas seats. Polling procedures were witnessed by international observers. As opposed to Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, for example, suffrage was granted to Lithuania’s ethnic Russian minority.
The election was won by the Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania, which gained 73 seats and was itself surprised by the decisive outcome. Analysts attributed this victory, among other things, to the party’s support by the Russian and Polish minorities, farmers, as well as to popular anger about the economic crisis, in particular the fuel shortage since Russia, the main supplier, had cut off imports. Brazauskas assumed the title of Chairman of the Seimas. Brazauskas would go on to be elected President of Lithuania on 14 February 1993 in Lithuania's first presidential election. Sajudis
Sajudis
Sąjūdis initially known as the Reform Movement of Lithuania, is the political organization which led the struggle for Lithuanian independence in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was established on June 3, 1988 and was led by Vytautas Landsbergis...
received 30 seats. On 1 December 1992, Bronislovas Lubys
Bronislovas Lubys
Bronislovas Lubys was a Lithuanian entrepreneur, former Prime Minister of Lithuania, signatory of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania, and businessman....
was appointed 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...
.