Ringaudas Songaila Explained

Ringaudas Songaila
Office:First Secretary of the Communist Party of Lithuania
Term Start:1 December 1987
Term End:19 October 1988
Predecessor:Petras Griškevičius
Successor:Algirdas Brazauskas
Office1:Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR
Term Start1:24 December 1975
Term End1:16 January 1981
Predecessor1:Antanas Barkauskas
Successor1:Lionginas Šepetys
Office2:Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Lithuanian SSR
Term Start2:16 January 1981
Term End2:18 November 1985
Predecessor2:Juozas Maniušis
Successor2:Vytautas Sakalauskas
Birth Date:20 April 1929
Birth Place:Klaipėda, Lithuania
Death Place:Trakai, Lithuania
Party:Communist Party of Lithuania
Occupation:veterinarian
politician

Ringaudas Bronislovas Songaila (20 April 1929 – 25 June 2019) was an official of the Lithuanian SSR nomenclatura. In 1987–1988, he was the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Lithuania or the de facto head of state.

Biography

Songaila was born in Klaipėda. He graduated from a veterinary school and within five years became a deputy of the Minister of Agriculture. In 1962, at the age of 33, he became Minister of Production of Agricultural Products and Resources. In agriculture, he worked on increasing the size of kolkhozs (collective farms), increasing centralization and specialization of agricultural production, elimination of khutors (single homesteads), and implementation of land improvements. Songaila was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Lithuania (1962–1981), Chairman of the Council of Ministers (1981–1985; equivalent to Prime Minister), Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR (1985–1987; de jure head of state), and First Secretary of the Communist Party of Lithuania (December 1987 – October 1988; de facto head of state).

He was described as a "bland" and indecisive but loyal communist who stayed away from political intrigues and showed interest only in agricultural matters. When Songaila ordered KGB and Internal Troops to forcibly disperse a rally of the radical pro-independence Lithuanian Liberty League on 28 September 1988, he was forced to resign one month later. He was replaced by Algirdas Brazauskas, who supported Sąjūdis movement and Lithuania's declaration of independence in March 1990.

After the resignation, Songaila retired from public life and died on 25 June 2019 at the age of 90. He was buried in the Antakalnis Cemetery in Vilnius.