Lithuanian parliamentary election, 2004
Encyclopedia
Parliamentary elections were held in Lithuania
on 10 October 2004. They were won by the newly founded Labour Party
and the ruling coalition of Social Democratic Party of Lithuania
and New Union (Social Liberals).
Lithuanians went to the polls in the country's first parliamentary election since joining NATO and the European Union
in May 2004.
In all twenty political parties contested the elections. Some 1 193 candidates stood in the 70 constituencies where the vote was proportional while some 607 stood in the 71 remaining single-member constituencies. A second round ballot was scheduled to take place on 24 October in those of the 67 constituencies where no candidate received more than half the vote.
Public opinion polls indicated that the Labour Party
, founded in 2003 and headed by a wealthy Russia
n-born businessman Viktor Uspaskich
, was likely to emerge as the largest group in the Seimas
. The governing left-wing coalition "Working for Lithuania" of the Social Democrat
and Social Liberal parties led by Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas
and Seimas Speaker Arturas Paulauskas
was predicted to come in second followed by the Homeland Union and the Liberal and Centre Union
.
During the electoral campaign Mr. Uspaskich promised higher living standards and war on political corruption. His party's message was welcomed in rural areas where people felt they had been left behind by surging prosperity in the cities and among many urban voters who declared corruption to be their number one concern. The ruling coalition campaigned on the results of its three and a half years spent in power - a record in longevity in independent Lithuania's history. The ruling coalition promised a number of social measures such as an increase in the average salary and retirement pensions over the next four years. Both coalition parties also promised to lower the unemployment rate to 8 per cent and to increase the Lithuanian
GDP by a third so that it would represent 60 per cent of the European average by 2008. On the conservative side the Homeland Union emphasised the need for a strong State to protect Lithuania from any possible threat from Russia.
Turnout was low with only 46.08 per cent of registered voters casting ballots, but well above the 25 per cent threshold required to make the vote valid.
The results of the first round of elections showed that the Labour Party had polled about 28 per cent of the vote, obtaining 22 of the 70 seats distributed by proportional election and one seat from a single-seat constituency. The coalition "Working for Lithuania" came in second, gaining slightly more than 20 per cent of the vote for 16 of the seats elected proportionally and 3 seats in the majority system. Homeland Union obtained nearly 15 per cent of the proportional vote, winning 11 seats in the nationwide constituency. The "For the Order and Justice" coalition, headed by the recently deposed President Rolandas Paksas
and formed by the Liberal Democratic Party and the Lithuanian People's Union "For the Fair Lithuania", gained 11 per cent and 9 seats. The Liberal and Centre Union
polled 9 per cent and gained 7 seats, while the Union of Farmers' Party and New Democracy Party coalition polled nearly 7 per cent and obtained 5 seats.
In 66 constituencies where no candidate had obtained the required majority voters returned to the polls on 24 October 2004. In this second round the Labour Party obtained 16 seats while the Homeland Union won 14 and the coalition "Working for Lithuania" 12. The Liberal and Centre Union obtained 11 seats the Union of Farmers' Party and New Democracy Party 5 while the Coalition "For the Order and Justice" and the Lithuanian Poles' Electoral Action one seat each. Six independent candidates also gained seats.
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...
on 10 October 2004. They were won by the newly founded Labour Party
Labour Party (Lithuania)
The Labour Party , or DP, is a centrist political party in Lithuania. It was founded in 2003 by the Russian-born millionaire Viktor Uspaskich....
and the ruling coalition of 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...
and New Union (Social Liberals).
Lithuanians went to the polls in the country's first parliamentary election since joining NATO and 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...
in May 2004.
In all twenty political parties contested the elections. Some 1 193 candidates stood in the 70 constituencies where the vote was proportional while some 607 stood in the 71 remaining single-member constituencies. A second round ballot was scheduled to take place on 24 October in those of the 67 constituencies where no candidate received more than half the vote.
Public opinion polls indicated that the Labour Party
Labour Party (Lithuania)
The Labour Party , or DP, is a centrist political party in Lithuania. It was founded in 2003 by the Russian-born millionaire Viktor Uspaskich....
, founded in 2003 and headed by a wealthy 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 businessman 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...
, was likely to emerge as the largest group 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...
. The governing left-wing coalition "Working for Lithuania" of the Social Democrat
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 Social Liberal parties led by Prime Minister 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....
and Seimas Speaker Arturas 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:...
was predicted to come in second followed by the Homeland Union and the Liberal and 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....
.
During the electoral campaign Mr. Uspaskich promised higher living standards and war on political corruption. His party's message was welcomed in rural areas where people felt they had been left behind by surging prosperity in the cities and among many urban voters who declared corruption to be their number one concern. The ruling coalition campaigned on the results of its three and a half years spent in power - a record in longevity in independent Lithuania's history. The ruling coalition promised a number of social measures such as an increase in the average salary and retirement pensions over the next four years. Both coalition parties also promised to lower the unemployment rate to 8 per cent and to increase the Lithuanian
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....
GDP by a third so that it would represent 60 per cent of the European average by 2008. On the conservative side the Homeland Union emphasised the need for a strong State to protect Lithuania from any possible threat from Russia.
Turnout was low with only 46.08 per cent of registered voters casting ballots, but well above the 25 per cent threshold required to make the vote valid.
The results of the first round of elections showed that the Labour Party had polled about 28 per cent of the vote, obtaining 22 of the 70 seats distributed by proportional election and one seat from a single-seat constituency. The coalition "Working for Lithuania" came in second, gaining slightly more than 20 per cent of the vote for 16 of the seats elected proportionally and 3 seats in the majority system. Homeland Union obtained nearly 15 per cent of the proportional vote, winning 11 seats in the nationwide constituency. The "For the Order and Justice" coalition, headed by the recently deposed President 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...
and formed by the Liberal Democratic Party and the Lithuanian People's Union "For the Fair Lithuania", gained 11 per cent and 9 seats. The Liberal and 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....
polled 9 per cent and gained 7 seats, while the Union of Farmers' Party and New Democracy Party coalition polled nearly 7 per cent and obtained 5 seats.
In 66 constituencies where no candidate had obtained the required majority voters returned to the polls on 24 October 2004. In this second round the Labour Party obtained 16 seats while the Homeland Union won 14 and the coalition "Working for Lithuania" 12. The Liberal and Centre Union obtained 11 seats the Union of Farmers' Party and New Democracy Party 5 while the Coalition "For the Order and Justice" and the Lithuanian Poles' Electoral Action one seat each. Six independent candidates also gained seats.