Lithuanian parliamentary election, 1996
Encyclopedia
A parliamentary election was held in Lithuania
in two stages on 20 October and 10 November 1996. The first round of this parliamentary election was held concurrently with a referendum to amend Articles 55, 57 and 131 of the constitution
, and a referendum on the use of proceeds from privatization
. The second round was held concurrently with a referendum to amend Article 47 of the constitution
.
72 MPs were elected on proportional party lists and 69 MPs in single member constituencies; in those constituencies where no candidate gained more than 50% of the vote on 20 October, a run-off
was held on 10 November.
On 9 April 1996, a decree issued by President of the Republic Algirdas Brazauskas
set the election date for 20 October and the second round of voting, if necessary, for 10 November.
The main contestants were the ruling Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania
(LDLP), the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania
(successor of the Communist Party of Lithuania
and led by Česlovas Juršėnas
), and the Homeland Union - Lithuanian Conservative Party, founded in 1993 from elements of Sajudis
(the Reform Movement which had paved the way to sovereignty) and led by Vytautas Landsbergis
, considered the hero of Lithuania's independence drive in 1991. The Conservatives' allies were the Christian Democratic Party and the Centre Union
. Pre-election polls favoured the right-wing opposition over LDLP, which was criticised for the country's economic stagnation and had been plagued by financial scandals, including one involving former Prime Minister Adolfas Šleževičius
. As the rival forces generally agreed on foreign policy (especially affiliation to NATO and the European institutions), the economy was at the forefront of campaign debate, as it was four years earlier when LDLP had won out on the same basis. Landsbergis, for his part, ran on an anti-corruption platform, promising improvement and stability on the domestic scene. Altogether 1352 candidates (considerably more than in 1992) vied for the 141 seats at stake.
Polling day was marked by a relatively low turnout. Only two of the 71 majority seats were won outright in the first round, with runoffs on 10 November being required for 65 others (new elections were to be held in the four remaining constituencies). The second round also saw a low turnout. Final results gave the edge to the conservative camp, which was markedly more unified than in the past. The election was won by the Homeland Union - Lithuanian Conservative Party, which gained 70 seats.
On 25 November, the newly elected Seimas
held its first session and elected Landsbergis as Speaker. The new Council of Ministers, headed by Prime Minister Gediminas Vagnorius
, was formed on 4 December. Vagnorius would go on to serve as Prime Minister and the head of a coalition government that included the Lithuanian Christian Democrats
under Algirdas Saudargas
, who was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs.
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 20 October and 10 November 1996. The first round of this parliamentary election was held concurrently with a referendum to amend Articles 55, 57 and 131 of the constitution
Constitution of Lithuania
The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania defines the legal foundation for all laws passed in the Republic of Lithuania. It was approved in a referendum on October 25, 1992.-History:...
, and a referendum on the use of proceeds from privatization
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
. The second round was held concurrently with a referendum to amend Article 47 of the constitution
Constitution of Lithuania
The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania defines the legal foundation for all laws passed in the Republic of Lithuania. It was approved in a referendum on October 25, 1992.-History:...
.
72 MPs were elected on proportional party lists and 69 MPs in single member constituencies; in those constituencies where no candidate gained more than 50% of the vote on 20 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 10 November.
On 9 April 1996, a decree issued by President of the Republic 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....
set the election date for 20 October and the second round of voting, if necessary, for 10 November.
The main contestants were the ruling Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania
Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania
Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania was a social democratic political party in Lithuania, that emerged out of the Lithuanian section of the CPSU in December 1989 LDDP was led by Algirdas Brazauskas, the first president of independent Lithuania. Because Brazauskas was elected as the first...
(LDLP), 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...
(successor of the Communist Party of Lithuania
Communist Party of Lithuania
The Communist Party of Lithuania was a communist party in Lithuania, established in early October 1918. The party was banned in December 1926.-History:...
and led by Česlovas Juršėnas
Ceslovas Juršenas
Česlovas Juršėnas is a Lithuanian politician and the former Speaker of the Seimas, the Lithuanian parliament.In 1955, he graduated from Ignalina secondary school with a gold medal and entered Vilnius University from which he graduated in 1966.During 1960-1964 he was an employee of a newspaper...
), and the Homeland Union - Lithuanian Conservative Party, founded in 1993 from elements of 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...
(the Reform Movement which had paved the way to sovereignty) and led by 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...
, considered the hero of Lithuania's independence drive in 1991. The Conservatives' allies were the Christian Democratic Party and the Centre Union
Liberal and Centre Union
The Liberal and Centre Union , abbreviated to LiCS, is a centre-right, liberal and conservative liberal political party in Lithuania. The party has thirteen seats in the Seimas, making it the fourth-largest party in the legislature....
. Pre-election polls favoured the right-wing opposition over LDLP, which was criticised for the country's economic stagnation and had been plagued by financial scandals, including one involving former Prime Minister Adolfas Šleževičius
Adolfas Šleževicius
Adolfas Šleževičius is a former Prime Minister of Lithuania.Previously a manager in a state dairy company, Šleževičius was appointed Prime Minister following the election of Algirdas Brazauskas as President in February 1993...
. As the rival forces generally agreed on foreign policy (especially affiliation to NATO and the European institutions), the economy was at the forefront of campaign debate, as it was four years earlier when LDLP had won out on the same basis. Landsbergis, for his part, ran on an anti-corruption platform, promising improvement and stability on the domestic scene. Altogether 1352 candidates (considerably more than in 1992) vied for the 141 seats at stake.
Polling day was marked by a relatively low turnout. Only two of the 71 majority seats were won outright in the first round, with runoffs on 10 November being required for 65 others (new elections were to be held in the four remaining constituencies). The second round also saw a low turnout. Final results gave the edge to the conservative camp, which was markedly more unified than in the past. The election was won by the Homeland Union - Lithuanian Conservative Party, which gained 70 seats.
On 25 November, the newly elected 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...
held its first session and elected Landsbergis as Speaker. The new Council of Ministers, headed by Prime Minister Gediminas Vagnorius
Gediminas Vagnorius
Gediminas Vagnorius is a Lithuanian politician and signatory of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. He served as the Prime Minister of Lithuania between 1991 and 1992, and again from 1996 until 1999....
, was formed on 4 December. Vagnorius would go on to serve as Prime Minister and the head of a coalition government that included the Lithuanian Christian Democrats
Lithuanian Christian Democrats
The Lithuanian Christian Democrats or LKD was a Christian-democratic political party in Lithuania. Originally established in 1905, it was closely associated with the Roman Catholic Church...
under Algirdas Saudargas
Algirdas Saudargas
Algirdas Saudargas is a Lithuanian politician and the signatory of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. He was the first foreign minister of post-Soviet Lithuania. He was foreign minister from March 24, 1990 to December 12, 1992 and again from December 4, 1996 to October 30,...
, who was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs.