Mykolas Sleževicius
Encyclopedia
Mykolas Sleževičius was a Lithuania
n lawyer, political figure, and journalist, who served as Prime Minister
of Lithuania on two occasions.
. Sleževičius took part in the Russian Revolution of 1905
. After receiving a law degree in 1907, he returned to Lithuania
and joined the Lithuanian Democratic Party
.
For the next five years, he worked as editor-in-chief of the newspapers Lietuvos ūkininkas (1907-1912), and Lietuvos Žinios
(1910-1912). Later he worked as a lawyer. When the German army occupied Lithuania in 1915, he left for Russia.
He was appointed as vice-chairman of the Supreme Council of Lithuania in Russia, an organization in which he later served as chairman. In 1918, he was imprisoned by the Bolsheviks in Voronezh
. He was eventually released and returned to Lithuania, which had now become an independent nation
again.
When the Council of Lithuania
officially dissolved the cabinet of the previous Prime Minister, Augustinas Voldemaras
, Sleževičius served as Prime Minister of Lithuania
from December 26, 1918, to March 12, 1919. He declined an offer from the military to assume dictatorial powers. A month later, he was again appointed Prime Minister on April 12, 1919, and held this office until October 7, 1919.
His fourth cabinet established a volunteer army, which became the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and took actions to thwart the aims of the Polish nationalist organization, the Polska Organizacja Wojskowa (POW). This Polish organization believed that Lithuania was a province of Poland and endeavored to make Lithuania part of the Second Polish Republic
. Earlier, Voldemaras thought that Lithuanian militia
s would be a sufficient deterrent against the Polish nationalists, however widespread dissatisfaction with his previous government bolstered support for the voluntary Lithuanian Armed Forces amongst the Lithuanian population. The Sleževičius government, or "Fourth Cabinet" also laid the foundations for various Lithuanian state institutions, including finances, jurisdiction, and municipalities. The Fourth Cabinet also made the first draft of land reform.
In 1920, after an armed conflict
between Poland and Lithuania erupted, Sleževičius was elected chairman of the Lithuanian Defense Committee (Vyriausias Lietuvos gynimo komitetas).
In 1922, Sleževičius was elected to the Lithuanian Parliament
as a representative of the Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union. On July 15, 1926 he was again appointed Prime Minister and held that office until December 17, 1926, when his government was overthrown by a military coup d'état.
After 1927, he worked as a lawyer for various organizations, and was chairman of the Lithuanian Society of Lawyers. He was buried in Petrašiūnai Cemetery
of Kaunas.
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...
n lawyer, political figure, and journalist, who served as Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Lithuania on two occasions.
Early life
In 1901, Sleževičius graduated from the Gymnasium of Jelgava; he later studied law at Odessa UniversityOdessa University
The I. I. Mechnikov Odessa National University , located in Odessa, Ukraine, is one of the country's major universities. It was founded in 1865, by an edict of Czar Alexander II of Russia, reorganizing the Richelieu Lyceum of Odessa into the new Imperial Novorossiya University. In the Soviet...
. Sleževičius took part in the Russian Revolution of 1905
Russian Revolution of 1905
The 1905 Russian Revolution was a wave of mass political and social unrest that spread through vast areas of the Russian Empire. Some of it was directed against the government, while some was undirected. It included worker strikes, peasant unrest, and military mutinies...
. After receiving a law degree in 1907, he returned to 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...
and joined the Lithuanian Democratic Party
Lithuanian Democratic Party
Lithuanian Democratic Party or LDP , established on October 17, 1902, was the second-oldest political party in Lithuania, then part of the Russian Empire. It published newspapers Lietuvos ūkininkas and Lietuvos žinios . During World War I, the democratic party split into several other parties and...
.
For the next five years, he worked as editor-in-chief of the newspapers Lietuvos ūkininkas (1907-1912), and Lietuvos Žinios
Lietuvos Žinios
Lietuvos žinios is a daily newspaper in Lithuania. Established in Vilnius in 1909, it was a liberal newspaper representing the Lithuanian Democratic Party...
(1910-1912). Later he worked as a lawyer. When the German army occupied Lithuania in 1915, he left for Russia.
Political career
In 1917, Sleževičius was expelled from the Lithuanian Socialist Peasants Party as a result of his agitating for Lithuanian independence from Russia. Later he became an influential member of the Lithuanian Socialist Peasants Democratic Party.He was appointed as vice-chairman of the Supreme Council of Lithuania in Russia, an organization in which he later served as chairman. In 1918, he was imprisoned by the Bolsheviks in Voronezh
Voronezh
Voronezh is a city in southwestern Russia, the administrative center of Voronezh Oblast. It is located on both sides of the Voronezh River, away from where it flows into the Don. It is an operating center of the Southeastern Railway , as well as the center of the Don Highway...
. He was eventually released and returned to Lithuania, which had now become an independent nation
Act of Independence of Lithuania
The Act of Independence of Lithuania or Act of February 16 was signed by the Council of Lithuania on February 16, 1918, proclaiming the restoration of an independent State of Lithuania, governed by democratic principles, with Vilnius as its capital. The Act was signed by all twenty...
again.
When the Council of Lithuania
Council of Lithuania
The Council of Lithuania , after July 11, 1918 The State Council of Lithuania , was convened at the Vilnius Conference that took place between September 18 and 23, 1917. The council was granted the executive authority of the Lithuanian people and was entrusted to establish an independent...
officially dissolved the cabinet of the previous Prime Minister, Augustinas Voldemaras
Augustinas Voldemaras
Augustinas Voldemaras was a Lithuanian nationalist political figure. He served as the country's first Prime Minister in 1918, and again from 1926 to 1929.- Biography :...
, Sleževičius served as Prime Minister of Lithuania
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...
from December 26, 1918, to March 12, 1919. He declined an offer from the military to assume dictatorial powers. A month later, he was again appointed Prime Minister on April 12, 1919, and held this office until October 7, 1919.
His fourth cabinet established a volunteer army, which became the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and took actions to thwart the aims of the Polish nationalist organization, the Polska Organizacja Wojskowa (POW). This Polish organization believed that Lithuania was a province of Poland and endeavored to make Lithuania part of the Second Polish Republic
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
. Earlier, Voldemaras thought that Lithuanian militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
s would be a sufficient deterrent against the Polish nationalists, however widespread dissatisfaction with his previous government bolstered support for the voluntary Lithuanian Armed Forces amongst the Lithuanian population. The Sleževičius government, or "Fourth Cabinet" also laid the foundations for various Lithuanian state institutions, including finances, jurisdiction, and municipalities. The Fourth Cabinet also made the first draft of land reform.
In 1920, after an armed conflict
Polish-Lithuanian War
The Polish–Lithuanian War was an armed conflict between newly independent Lithuania and Poland in the aftermath of World War I. The conflict primarily concerned territorial control of the Vilnius Region, including Vilnius , and the Suwałki Region, including the towns of Suwałki, Augustów, and Sejny...
between Poland and Lithuania erupted, Sleževičius was elected chairman of the Lithuanian Defense Committee (Vyriausias Lietuvos gynimo komitetas).
In 1922, Sleževičius was elected to the Lithuanian Parliament
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...
as a representative of the Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union. On July 15, 1926 he was again appointed Prime Minister and held that office until December 17, 1926, when his government was overthrown by a military coup d'état.
After 1927, he worked as a lawyer for various organizations, and was chairman of the Lithuanian Society of Lawyers. He was buried in Petrašiūnai Cemetery
Petrašiunai Cemetery
Petrašiūnai Cemetery is Lithuania's premiere last resting place formally designated for graves of people influential in national history, politics, arts, and science.- Location :...
of Kaunas.