Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union

The Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (Lithuanian: Lietuvos valstiečių ir žaliųjų sąjunga, LVŽS; also known as Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union, formerly Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union, Lithuanian: Lietuvos valstiečių liaudininkų sąjunga, LVLS) is a green-conservative[1] and agrarian[2] political party in Lithuania led by industrial farmer Ramūnas Karbauskis.

Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union Lietuvos valstiečių ir žaliųjų sąjunga
Abbreviation	LVŽS
Chairman	Ramūnas Karbauskis
First Vice Chairman	Bronis Ropė
Vice Chairpeople	Rima Baškienė Kęstutis Mažeika Arvydas Nekrošius Aušrinė Norkienė Mindaugas Puidokas Viktoras Rinkevičius Virginijus Sinkevičius Andriejus Stančikas Tomas Tomilinas Povilas Žagunis
Founded	2001 (Union of Peasants and New Democratic Parties)
Merger of	Lithuanian Peasants Party New Democracy Party
Headquarters	Pamėnkalnio g. 26, Vilnius
Membership	4,312
Ideology	Green conservatism[1] Agrarianism[2][3] Technocracy[4]
Political position	Centre[3][1][5] to centre-right[6][7]
European Parliament group	Greens/EFA
Colours	Green
Seimas	32 / 141
European Parliament (Lithuanian seats)	1 / 11
Municipal councils	218 / 1,526
Mayors	6 / 60
Website
www.lvzs.lt/lt/
Politics of Lithuania Political parties Elections

Following the 2020 parliamentary election, the LVŽS has been in opposition to the Šimonytė Cabinet. The party is also a member of the Greens–European Free Alliance group in the European Parliament. Its symbol since 2012 has been the white stork.

History

Foundation and participation in the Social Democratic Party-led governments (2001–2008)

In December 2001, electoral alliance between the Lithuanian Peasants Party (Lietuvos valstiečių partija) and the New Democratic Party (Naujosios demokratijos partija) known as the "Valstiečių ir Naujosios demokratijos partijų sąjunga" (or VNDS), which translates to the Peasants and New Democratic Party Union or Union of Peasants and New Democratic Parties.[8] In 2002–03 Lithuanian presidential election party's chairman Kazimira Prunskienė came with 5.04 per cent of the votes in the first round and saved its deposit. In the second round, she endorsed Rolandas Paksas of the Liberal Democratic Party, who won the election.[9]

In 2004 presidential election (after Rolandas Paksas impeachement), Kazimira Prunskienė narrowly came to the second position (21.25 per cent), but she was defeated in the second round (although, after endorsement of Rolandas Paksas).[10] In 2004 European Parliament election, the party got 7.41 per cent of the votes and won one seat by Gintaras Didžiokas. He joined the Union for Europe of the Nations. In Seimas election later tahat same year, the party got 6.6 per cent of the votes. The Labour Party joined forces with Peasants and New Democratic Party Union and invited the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania to join.[11] Brazauskas initially ruled out a coalition with Labour,[12] but eventually Social Democrats and New Union (Social Liberals) joined forces with the Labour Party and the Peasants, with Brazauskas as the Prime Minister.[13]

In February 2006, the Peasants and New Democratic Party Union led by Lithuanian politician Kazimiera Prunskienė chose to rename itself Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union (after the pre-war Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union). The party itself was main force in the Social Democratic Party-led governments.

In 2008 parliamentary election the party felt below 5 per cent threeshold and was left with three members, who were elected in single-member constituencies.

Opposition and leading force in the government (2009–2020)

In 2009 Kazimira Prunskienė left the party and founded the party of her own (Lithuanian People's Party).[14] Although the party was minor one, it gained some influence in 2010, when it supported the Homeland Union-led government. The Lithuanian Peasants Popular Union changed its name to the Lithuanian Peasants and Greens Union in January 2012.

The party emerged as a dark horse in the electoral race in the spring of 2016. The rise of support was attributed to the popularity of Karbauskis, who had been active in campaigning against alcohol, and their lack of involvement in political scandals.[15] LVŽS was further boosted by the announcement that Saulius Skvernelis, a Minister of Interior in Butkevičius Cabinet and one of the most popular politicians in Lithuania, would head the party's electoral list in the elections, without joining the party.[16][17]

After successful performance in the 2016 parliamentary elections, a clarification about its English name format was issued, changing it to Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union.[18] Also, after these election the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union became one of the main three political parties in Lithuania (along with the Homeland Union and the Social Democratic Party).

After these elections, various pundits claimed that the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union could form coalition with the Homeland Union,[19] but Ramūnas Karbauskis proposed wide coalition between aforementionted parties and the Social Democratic Party. The Homeland Union's leader Gabrielius Landsbergis himself proposed coalition between the Homeland Union, the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union and the Liberal Movement, although both Ramūnas Karbauskis and Liberal Movement's leader Eugenijus Gentvilas turned down this offer.[20] Eventually, coalition was formed between the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union and the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania, which lasted until the autumm of 2017.

Party's support gradually declined by 2018 (e. g. in 2019 European Parliament election the party got 11.92 per cent of the votes), although due to the rally 'round the flag effect (caused by the COVID-19 pandemic), its support rebounded. In 2020 parliamentary election the party won 18.07 per cent of the vote.

Electoral results

Seimas

Election	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Government
2004	Participated coalition along with New Democracy Party	6.6	10 / 141	4	7th	Coalition
2008	46,162 (PR)	3.73	3 / 141	3	9th	Opposition
2012	53,141 (PR)	3.88	1 / 141	2	8th	Opposition
2016	274,108 (PR)	22.45	54 / 141	53	1st	Coalition
2020	204,780 (PR)	18.07	32 / 141	22	2nd	Opposition

European Parliament

Election year	# of total votes	% of overall vote	# of seats
2004	89,338	7.4%	1 / 13
2009	10,285	1.82%	0 / 12
2014	75,643	6.25%	1 / 11
2019	157,604	11.92%	2 / 11

Current Members of the Seimas

Parliamentarian	From	Constituency
Vida Ačienė	2016	Multi-member Constituency
Valius Ąžuolas	2016	Akmenė-Mažeikiai
Kęstutis Bacvinka	2016	Garliava
Vytautas Bakas	2016	Multi-member Constituency
Rima Baškienė	2004	Kuršėnai-Dainai
Guoda Burokienė	2016	Aukštaitija
Justas Džiugelis	2016	Multi-member Constituency
Aurimas Gaidžiūnas	2016	Radviliškis
Dainius Gaižauskas	2016	Marijampolė
Arūnas Gumuliauskas	2016	Multi-member Constituency
Stasys Jakeliūnas	2016	Multi-member Constituency
Jonas Jarutis	2016	Multi-member Constituency
Eugenijus Jovaiša	2016	Multi-member Constituency
Dalius Kaminskas	2016	Kėdainiai
Ramūnas Karbauskis	2016 (1996–2004)	Šilainiai
Dainius Kepenis	2016	Marių
Gintautas Kindurys	2016	Nalšia
Algimantas Kirkutis	2016	Baltijos
Asta Kubilienė	2016	Multi-member Constituency
Bronius Markauskas	2016 (2004–2008)	Gargždai
Raimundas Martinėlis	2016	Sėla
Laimutė Matkevičienė	2016	Kaišiadorys-Elektrėnai
Kęstutis Mažeika	2016	Sūduva
Rūta Miliūtė	2016	Multi-member Constituency
Alfredas Stasys Nausėda	2016	Šilutė
Arvydas Nekrošius	2016	Raseiniai-Kėdainiai
Petras Nevulis	2016	Multi-member Constituency
Aušrinė Norkienė	2016	Tauragė
Aušra Papirtienė	2016	Kalniečiai
Virgilijus Poderys	2016	Multi-member Constituency
Viktoras Pranckietis	2016	Raudondvaris
Mindaugas Puidokas	2016	Aleksotas-Vilijampolė
Vytautas Rastenis	2016	Multi-member Constituency
Juozas Rimkus	2016	Kelmė-Šiauliai
Viktoras Rinkevičius	2016 (2000–2008)	Multi-member Constituency
Valerijus Simulik	2000	Saulės
Virginijus Sinkevičius	2016	Šeškinė
Saulius Skvernelis	2016	Karoliniškės
Kęstutis Smirnovas	2016	Vilkaviškis
Lauras Stacevičius	2016	Dainava
Andriejus Stančikas	2016	Multi-member Constituency
Levutė Staniuvienė	2016	Kuršas
Zenonas Streikus	2016	Lazdijai-Druskininkai
Dovilė Šakalienė	2016	Multi-member Constituency
Robertas Šarknickas	2016	Alytus
Audrys Šimas	2016	Biržai-Kupiškis
Agnė Širinskienė	2016	Multi-member Constituency
Tomas Tomilinas	2016	Multi-member Constituency
Stasys Tumėnas	2016	Aušros
Povilas Urbšys	2012	Vakarinė
Petras Valiūnas	2016	Dzūkija
Egidijus Vareikis	2000	Multi-member Constituency
Juozas Varžgalys	2016	Ukmergė
Gediminas Vasiliauskas	2016	Petrašiūnai
Aurelijus Veryga	2016	Panemunė
Virginija Vingrienė	2016	Multi-member Constituency

Name

• 2001 – Dec 2005: Peasants and New Democratic Party Union or Union of Peasants and New Democratic Parties (Valstiečių ir Naujosios demokratijos partijų sąjunga/VNDS)
• Dec 2005 – Jan 2012: Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union (Lietuvos valstiečių liaudininkų sąjunga/LVLS)
• Jan 2012 – Feb 2017: Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union (Lietuvos valstiečių ir žaliųjų sąjunga/LVŽS)
• Feb 2017 – present: Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (Lietuvos valstiečių ir žaliųjų sąjunga/LVŽS)

See also

• Union of Greens and Farmers (Latvia)

References

1. Raunio, Tapio; Sedelius, Thomas (13 July 2019). Semi-Presidential Policy-Making in Europe: Executive Coordination and Political Leadership. Palgrave Studies in Presidential Politics. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 63. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-16431-7. ISBN 978-3-030-16431-7.
2. Bakke, Elisabeth (2010). "Central and East European party systems since 1989". Central and Southeast European Politics since 1989. Cambridge University Press. p. 81.
3. Nordsieck, Wolfram (2020). "Lithuania". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
4. Lowe, Josh (25 October 2016). "The Farmers' Party That Stormed the Lithuanian Election: What You Need to Know". Newsweek. Newsweek. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
5. Vitureau, Marielle; Sibierski, Mary (23 October 2016). "Lithuanians vote for change handing farmers' party surprise win". Yahoo News. AFP. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
6. Daniel Matthews-Ferrero, Robert Steenland (10 May 2019). "EU country briefing: Lithuania". EURACTIV. The country’s strongest political parties are currently the liberal-conservative Homeland Union (TS-LKD), social-democrat Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania (LSDP), and, since 2016, the centre-right agrarian Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS).
7. Claudia Delpero (10 September 2019). "Who is Virginijus Sinkevičius, the EU's next environment commissioner?". ENDS Europe. A member of the Farmers and Greens Party (LVŽS), a centre-right party that sits with the Greens/European Free Alliance group in the European ...
8. "K.Prunskienė ruošiasi jungtuvėms ir rinkimams". DELFI.
9. "K.Prunskienė antrame ture parems R.Paksą". DELFI.
10. "R.Paksas pareiškė remiąs K.Prunskienę". DELFI.
11. "V. Uspaskichas kviečia kitas partijas kartu formuoti valdančiąją daugumą". ELTA. 25 October 2004. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
12. "A. Brazauskas: prognozuoju, kad koalicijos su Darbo partija nebus". ELTA. 24 October 2004. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
13. "Seimas 2004-2008 m.: valdantieji rūbą keitė kelis kartus" [2004-2008 Seimas: the governing coalition changed its clothes several times] (in Lithuanian). Verslo Žinios. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
14. "K.Prunskienė gimdys Liaudies partiją". Kauno diena.
15. "Partijų reitinguose išnyra juodasis arkliukas" [A dark horse emerges in the party ratings]. delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 21 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
16. Želnienė, Liepa (23 March 2016). "Saulius Skvernelis rinkimuose dalyvaus su žaliaisiais, bet į partiją nestos" [Saulius Skvernelis will participate in the elections with the Greens, but will not join the party] (in Lithuanian). 15min.lt. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
17. "Lietuvos valstiečių ir žaliųjų sąjungą į Seimą ves Saulius Skvernelis" [Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union will be led in the elections by Saulius Skvernelis] (in Lithuanian). Vakarų Ekspresas. ELTA. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
18. "Verčiant į anglų žodžio "valstiečiai" neliks". Lietuvos Žinios (in Lithuanian). 17 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017. LVŽS šiandien pranešė, kad nuo šiol partijos pavadinimas angliškai skambės Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union.
19. https://www.bernardinai.lt/2016-10-27-seimo-rinkimu-apzvalga-sokiruojanti-bet-desninga-lvzs-pergale/
20. https://m.delfi.lt/delfi/article.php%3fid=72669570&amp=1

External links

• Official English web page