Simple directory > Regional > Lithuania

Country :Lithuania Official name: Lietuvos Respublika (Republic of Lithuania) Head of State: President Valdas Adamkus (inaugurated 12 Jul 2004) Head of government: Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas (LSDP) (since 5 Jul 2001; re-appointed 4 Mar 2003) Ruling party: Coalition government from 17 Jul 2001: Lietuvos Socialdemokratu Partija (LSDP) (Social-democratic Party of Lithuania), Naujoji Sajunga (socialliberalai) (NS) (New Union (social-liberals), Naujosios Demokratijos Partija (NDP) (New Democratic Party) and Lietuvos Valstieciu Partija (LVP) (Lithuanian Peasant Party). Area: 62,500 square km Population: 3.49 million (2004) Capital: Vilnius Official language: Lithuanian Currency: Litas (plural Litai) (Lt) = 100 cents Exchange rate: Lt2.67 per US$ (Nov 2004); the litu was pegged to the US$ until Feb 2002, when it was re-pegged to the euro at a rate of Lt3.4528. GDP per capita: US$5,156 (2003) GDP real growth: 6.00% (2003) Labour force: 1.50 million (2003) Unemployment: 10.50% (2003) Inflation: -0.40% (2003) Balance of trade: -US$1.40 billion (2003) Foreign debt: US$5.80 billion (2003)

Historical profile

The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was in union with Poland from 1569; it was annexed by Russia between 1772 and 1795.

1795–1914 Lithuania became part of the Russian empire.

1914–18 The Russians were driven out of Lithuania by the Germans in the First World War.

1918 Lithuania declared independence.

1922 A constitution declared Lithuania a parliamentary republic with the Seimas as the parliamentary organ.

1926 In a military coup, Antanas Smetona came to power as the head of an authoritarian regime.

1940 Lithuania was invaded and occupied by the Soviet Union.

1941 Lithuania was occupied by the Germans, until it was re-annexed by the Soviets in 1944.

1988 A nationalist movement, the Lithuanian Reform Movement (Sàjudis), was set up by a group of writers and intellectuals; at a mass rally in Vilnius, the leaders declared that the USSR occupied Lithuania illegally.

1989 Parliament approved the declaration of Lithuanian sovereignty, stating that Lithuanian laws take precedence over Soviet laws.

1990 Sàjudis won the elections (the first free elections for 50 years). Vytautas Landsbergis was elected chairman of parliament, which declared Lithuania's independence. Fearing the impact that this would have on nationalist demands in the other Baltic republics, the Soviet Union immediately imposed an economic blockade; Lithuania agreed to suspend independence, pending talks.

1991 Talks with Moscow failed and the economy faced turmoil; Landsbergis ended the suspension of the declaration of independence. A referendum was held, resulting in an overwhelming vote for independence. Following a failed coup in Moscow, the USSR recognised Lithuania's independence. Lithuania, together with Latvia and Estonia, were admitted to the UN.

1992 A new constitution introducing a presidency was adopted by referendum. The Lietuvos Demokratine Darbo Partija (LDDP) (Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania) won more seats than Sàjudis in the elections – the LDDP was the first former communist party to return to power in central and eastern Europe.

1993 Algirdas Brazauskas, the former Lietuvos Komunistu Partija (LKP) (Lithuanian Communist Party) first secretary, won direct presidential elections and appointed Adolfas Slezevicius prime minister. Following the defeat of the Sàjudis organisation in the 1992 elections, the Homeland Union was established.

1996 Allegations of corruption led to the removal of Slezevicius and Mindaugas Stankevicius was appointed prime minister. After elections, the Tevynes Sajunga (Lietuvos Konservatoriai) (TS (LK) (Homeland Union (Lithuanian Conservatives)) formed a centre-right coalition government with the Lietuvos Kricioniu Demokratu Partija (LKDP) (Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party) and the Lietuvos Centro Sajunga (LCS) (Centre Union of Lithuania). Gediminas Vagnorius was appointed prime minister.

1998 Valdas Adamkus was elected president.

1999 Vagnorius resigned in April; Rolandas Paksas was appointed prime minister, but he later resigned in August. A new government, under the leadership of Andrius Kubilius, came to power.

2000 Following the parliamentary elections, a minority coalition government was established, which included the Lietuvos Liberalu Sajunga (LLS) (Lithuanian Liberal Union), LCS and the Modernuju Kriscioni Demokratu Sajunga (MKDS) (Modern Christian-Democratic Union) with the support of other smaller parties. Rolandas Paksas, leader of the LLS, was again appointed prime minister.

2001 Prime Minister Rolandas Paksas' coalition government was brought down over differences about energy sector privatisations. A coalition government was formed, led by the Lietuvos Socialdemokratu Partija (LSDP) (Social-democratic Party of Lithuania). The LSDP's Algirdas Brazauskas was appointed prime minister.

2002 The litas was re-pegged from the US dollar to the euro.

2003 Rolandas Paksas won the second round of the presidential elections. Algirdas Brazauskas was re-appointed prime minister on 4 March. Just over 60 per cent of Lithuanians voted in a referendum on membership of the EU; 90 per cent said yes.

2004 In April, Lithuania acceded to NATO. On 6 April, parliament voted three articles of impeachment against President Rolandas Paksas, removing him from office; Parliament Speaker Arturas Paulauskas became acting president. Lithuania entered the EU on 1 May. Valdas Adamkus won the 27 June run-off presidential elections and was inaugurated on 12 July. The opposition Labour Party, established in 2003 and led by a Russian,Viktor Uspaskich, took the lead in the first round parliamentary elections on 10 October.

There's no web links here.