Young Communist League of Lithuania (1989)
Encyclopedia
Young Communist League of Lithuania was a political youth movement in the Lithuanian SSR
, Soviet Union
. It was formed at a congress in June 1989, as the Leninist Young Communist League of Lithuania (LLKJS), the Lithuanian republican branch of the All Union Leninist Young Communist League
(VLKSM), broke away from VLKSM and formed an independent organization. The break came after a survey had shown that only 11% of young Lithuanians considered that the LLKJS should have remained in the VLKSM.
The new organization did not adhere to the principles of democratic centralism
. The shift was however not only organizational, but also represented a break in political orientation. The formulated goal of VLKSM of 'progress towards communism
' was replaced by a pledge to 'defend the sovereignty of the Lithuanian SSR'. A sector of the erstwhile Leninist Young Communist League of Lithuania decided to remain in VLKSM, and formed a new Lithuanian republican branch of VLKSM.
In defiance of an amended election system, LKJS refused to nominated delegates to the Lithuanian Supreme Soviet.
The LKJS contested the 1990 Lithuanian elections, separately from the Communist Party. The organization did not win any seats though.
Alfonsas Macaitis was the First Sectary of the youth league. Maciatis claimed that the organization was the continuation of the interbellum Young Communist League of Lithuania. According to Maciatis, the interbellum youth league had been illegally annexed to the VLKSM.
In October 1990, the youth league was transformed into the Youth Forum of Lithuania. The youth league decided to hand over all its proporties to the new organization.
Lithuanian SSR
The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Lithuanian SSR, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union...
, Soviet Union
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....
. It was formed at a congress in June 1989, as the Leninist Young Communist League of Lithuania (LLKJS), the Lithuanian republican branch of the All Union Leninist Young Communist League
Komsomol
The Communist Union of Youth , usually known as Komsomol , was the youth division of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The Komsomol in its earliest form was established in urban centers in 1918. During the early years, it was a Russian organization, known as the Russian Communist Union of...
(VLKSM), broke away from VLKSM and formed an independent organization. The break came after a survey had shown that only 11% of young Lithuanians considered that the LLKJS should have remained in the VLKSM.
The new organization did not adhere to the principles of democratic centralism
Democratic centralism
Democratic centralism is the name given to the principles of internal organization used by Leninist political parties, and the term is sometimes used as a synonym for any Leninist policy inside a political party...
. The shift was however not only organizational, but also represented a break in political orientation. The formulated goal of VLKSM of 'progress towards communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
' was replaced by a pledge to 'defend the sovereignty of the Lithuanian SSR'. A sector of the erstwhile Leninist Young Communist League of Lithuania decided to remain in VLKSM, and formed a new Lithuanian republican branch of VLKSM.
In defiance of an amended election system, LKJS refused to nominated delegates to the Lithuanian Supreme Soviet.
The LKJS contested the 1990 Lithuanian elections, separately from the Communist Party. The organization did not win any seats though.
Alfonsas Macaitis was the First Sectary of the youth league. Maciatis claimed that the organization was the continuation of the interbellum Young Communist League of Lithuania. According to Maciatis, the interbellum youth league had been illegally annexed to the VLKSM.
In October 1990, the youth league was transformed into the Youth Forum of Lithuania. The youth league decided to hand over all its proporties to the new organization.