Lithuanian parliamentary election, 2000
Encyclopedia
More than 58 per cent of the 2.6 million eligible voters turned out in the 8 October 2000 Lithuanian parliamentary election to choose from among the 1,180 candidates contesting the 70 seats allocated in the Seimas
via proportional representation lists, and some 700 candidates competing for the 71 single-member constituency seats.
The main issue in the electoral campaign was the economy
. The Social Democratic
coalition promised higher social expenditure and less taxes, while the ruling Homeland Union announced the continuation of its austerity policy.
The results showed that the Parliament had swung to the left, with a crushing defeat for the ruling conservative Homeland Union. Two centre-left parties won the highest percentage of the popular vote, the Social Democratic coalition of former President Algirdas Brazauskas
(31 per cent), and the New Union (Social Liberals), led by former Soviet
prosecutor Artūras Paulauskas
, that came in second (19.64 per cent). The centre-right Liberal Union
party, headed by popular Vilnius
mayor and former Prime Minister Rolandas Paksas
, polled 17.25 per cent.
The Homeland Union won just 8.62 per cent of the vote and 8 seats, far less than the 40 per cent which it had won in 1996. It performed poorly in the single-member constituencies, winning only a single seat. Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius
lost his constituency, as did several other cabinet ministers. As for the other single-member constituency seats, the Social Democratic coalition won 23, the Liberal Union 18, the New Union 11 and the Lithuanian Peasants Party 4. Former President Brazauska's bloc won the most seats but fell short of the 71 needed to gain a majority in Parliament.
The results showed that Lithuanians had apparently sanctioned the outgoing government for the economic recession
and the 12 % unemployment
brought about by the reforms that had stabilised the national budget in preparation for membership of the European Union
and the NATO military alliance. This entry has been supported by all the parties with parliamentary representation, but some of them have criticised the increase in the defence budget to 2% of the GDP, the level recommended for NATO entry.
On 19 October 2000, the Seimas elected the New Union leader, Arturas Pauluskas, as its new Speaker. A few days later, on 24 October, President Valdas Adamkus
appointed Rolandas Paksas as the new Prime Minister at the head of a four-party coalition government comprising the Liberal Union
, the New Alliance, the Centre Union
and the Modern Christian Democrats.
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...
via proportional representation lists, and some 700 candidates competing for the 71 single-member constituency seats.
The main issue in the electoral campaign was the economy
Economy of Lithuania
Lithuania is a member of the European Union and the biggest economy among three Baltic states. GDP per capita reached USD 17,800 in 2008 and was higher than the ones of all its neighbors – Latvia, Poland, Russia and Belarus....
. The Social Democratic
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...
coalition promised higher social expenditure and less taxes, while the ruling Homeland Union announced the continuation of its austerity policy.
The results showed that the Parliament had swung to the left, with a crushing defeat for the ruling conservative Homeland Union. Two centre-left parties won the highest percentage of the popular vote, the Social Democratic coalition of former President 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....
(31 per cent), and the New Union (Social Liberals), led by former Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
prosecutor Artūras Paulauskas
Arturas Paulauskas
Artūras Paulauskas is a Lithuanian politician. He was the Speaker of Seimas, the parliament of Lithuania, from 2000 to 2006, and he served as Acting President of Lithuania from 6 April 2004 to 12 July 2004.-Early career:...
, that came in second (19.64 per cent). The centre-right Liberal Union
Liberal Union of Lithuania
The Liberal Union of Lithuania was a political party in Lithuania. It had 33 of 141 members of the Seimas.In 2003 it merged with two smaller parties to form the Liberal and Centre Union.-See also:*Liberalism*Contributions to liberal theory...
party, headed by popular Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
mayor and former Prime Minister Rolandas Paksas
Rolandas Paksas
Rolandas Paksas is a Lithuanian politician who was President of Lithuania from 2003 to 2004. He was previously Prime Minister of Lithuania in 1999 and again from 2000 to 2001, and he also served as Mayor of Vilnius from 1997 to 1999 and again from 2000 to 2001...
, polled 17.25 per cent.
The Homeland Union won just 8.62 per cent of the vote and 8 seats, far less than the 40 per cent which it had won in 1996. It performed poorly in the single-member constituencies, winning only a single seat. Prime Minister 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...
lost his constituency, as did several other cabinet ministers. As for the other single-member constituency seats, the Social Democratic coalition won 23, the Liberal Union 18, the New Union 11 and the Lithuanian Peasants Party 4. Former President Brazauska's bloc won the most seats but fell short of the 71 needed to gain a majority in Parliament.
The results showed that Lithuanians had apparently sanctioned the outgoing government for the economic recession
Recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way...
and the 12 % unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
brought about by the reforms that had stabilised the national budget in preparation for membership of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and the NATO military alliance. This entry has been supported by all the parties with parliamentary representation, but some of them have criticised the increase in the defence budget to 2% of the GDP, the level recommended for NATO entry.
On 19 October 2000, the Seimas elected the New Union leader, Arturas Pauluskas, as its new Speaker. A few days later, on 24 October, President Valdas Adamkus
Valdas Adamkus
Valdas Adamkus was President of Lithuania from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2004 to 2009.In Lithuania, the President's tenure lasts for five years; Adamkus' first term in office began on February 26, 1998 and ended on February 28, 2003, following his defeat by Rolandas Paksas in the next...
appointed Rolandas Paksas as the new Prime Minister at the head of a four-party coalition government comprising the Liberal Union
Liberal Union of Lithuania
The Liberal Union of Lithuania was a political party in Lithuania. It had 33 of 141 members of the Seimas.In 2003 it merged with two smaller parties to form the Liberal and Centre Union.-See also:*Liberalism*Contributions to liberal theory...
, the New Alliance, 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....
and the Modern Christian Democrats.