| Tenth Seimas of Lithuania | |
| Term: | 2008—2012 |
The Tenth Seimas of Lithuania was a parliament (Seimas) elected in Lithuania. Elections took place on 12 October 2008, with the run-off on 26 October. The Seimas commenced its work on 17 November 2008 and served a four-year term, with the last session on 14 November 2012.
See main article: 2008 Lithuanian parliamentary election. In the elections in 2008, 70 members of the parliament were elected on proportional party lists and 71 in single member constituencies. Elections took place on 12 October 2008. Run-off elections were held on 26 October in the single-seat constituencies where no candidate secured a seat in the first round.
Homeland Union was the largest party in the Tenth Seimas and formed a coalition government with the populist National Resurrection Party, Liberal Movement and Liberal and Centre Union. TV producer and showman Arūnas Valinskas of the National Resurrection Party was elected the Speaker of the Seimas. Ten months later, on 15 September 2009, he was removed from office in a secret ballot and two days later was replaced by Irena Degutienė of the Homeland Union,[1] who became the first female Speaker of the Seimas.[2]
The Seimas approved the leader of the Homeland Union Andrius Kubilius as the Prime Minister. Kubilius led the Government throughout the term.
The term of the Tenth Seimas was plagued by the Great Recession and the busting of the housing bubble. The Seimas and the Government responded with a wide-ranging tax reform, changing over 60 laws in the final days of 2008, including increasing the VAT rate and eliminating exceptions for certain products and services, increasing the corporate income tax rate, excise taxes of fuel, cigarettes and alcohol, and lowering the personal income tax rate. Due to its rushed nature the reform was much-criticized by experts and tax payers and many of the laws were later adjusted.[3]
The reforms, together with the economic crisis and severe austerity measures, including cuts to public-sector salaries and pensions, brought about widespread dissatisfaction and protests. On 16 January 2009, more than 7,000 people gathered in front of the Seimas Palace in a protest that soon turned violent.[3] [4]
In the energy sector, the Seimas dissolved the energy holding company LEO LT that was expected to build the new Visaginas Nuclear Power Plant. However, the parliament approved a different project to build the power plant, with the Japanese company Hitachi as a strategic investor.[3] The proposal failed to win an approval from Lithuanian voters in a referendum in 2012.[5]
Several members of the Tenth Seimas were indicted for various offences, but only one was impeached and removed from office. Linas Karalius lost his mandate after taking a vacation while the Seimas was in session and having another member of the parliament, Aleksandras Sacharukas, vote in his name. Sacharucas was also indicted but narrowly won the impeachment vote.[3]
After the elections, the parliamentary groups were formed in the Seimas, largely on the party lines: Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDPF), Labour Party (DPF), Liberal and Centre Union (LCSF), Liberal Movement (LSF), Order and Justice (FTT, also included members of the Electoral Action of the Poles in Lithuania), Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TSLKDF), National Resurrection Party (TPPF) and the Mixed Group of Members of the Seimas (MSNG).[2]
In Summer 2009, the National Resurrection Party parliamentary group, which had been part of the ruling coalition, split into "One Lithuania" (FVL, Lithuanian: Frakcija Viena Lietuva) and Oak (ĄF, Lithuanian: Ąžuolo Frakcija) parliamentary groups. The former eventually former Christian Party (KPF) parliamentary group, while the latter joined with the Liberal and Centre Union.[2]
By the end of the term of the Seimas, the following parliamentary groups were active.[6]
| Name | Abbr. | Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=5px style="background-color: #031E83" | Labor Party | DPF | 10 | ||
| width=5px style="background-color: " | Order and Justice | FTT | 17 | ||
| width=5px style="background-color: #FFC601" | Liberal and Centre Union | LCSF | 12 | ||
| width=5px style="background-color: #95CA70" | Christian Party | KPF | 8 | ||
| width=5px style="background-color: #F29402" | Liberal Movement | LSF | 12 | ||
| width=5px style="background-color: #FF101A" | Social Democratic Party of Lithuania | LSDPF | 23 | ||
| width=5px style="background-color: #2F6CD1" | Homeland Union | TSF | 43 | ||
| width=5px style="background-color: " | Others | MSNG | 13 | ||
| width=5px style="background-color: #000000" | Vacant seats | 2 | |||
A total of 154 members served on the Tenth Seimas.[7]
| Name, Surname | Constituency | Electoral list | Parliamentary group | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remigijus Ačas | Nationwide | TT | FTT | Until 9 April 2011 | |
| Mantas Adomėnas | Senamiesčio | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Vilija Aleknaitė-Abramikienė | Žirmūnų | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Raimundas Alekna | Nationwide | TS | Until 17 November 2008 | ||
| Vytenis Andriukaitis | Nationwide | LSDP | LSDPF | ||
| Arvydas Anušauskas | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Petras Auštrevičius | Nationwide | LRLS | LSF | ||
| Audronius Ažubalis | Šeškinės | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Vincas Babilius | Nationwide | TPP | TPPF ĄF (from 16 July 2009) TPPF (from 17 September 2009) LCSF (from 21 September 2010) | ||
| Vaidotas Bacevičius | Kretingos | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Zigmantas Balčytis | Šilalės-Šilutės | LSDP | LSDPF | Until 28 June 2009 | |
| Virginija Baltraitienė | Kėdainių | DP | DPF | ||
| Dailis Alfonsas Barakauskas | Nationwide | TT | FTT | From 18 November 2008 | |
| Mindaugas Bastys | Šakiai | Šakių | LSDP | LSDPF | |
| Rima Baškienė | Šiaulių kaimiškoji | LVLS | MSNG | ||
| Asta Baukutė | Nationwide | TPP | TPPF ĄF (from 16 July 2009) TPPF (from 17 September 2009) MSNG (from 21 September 2010) | ||
| Antanas Baura | Anykščių-Kupiškio | LVLS | MSNG | ||
| Danutė Bekintienė | Karoliniškių | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Agnė Bilotaitė | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Vilija Blinkevičiūtė | Nationwide | LSDP | LSDPF | Until 28 June 2009 | |
| Vytautas Bogušis | Nationwide | LCS | LCSF | ||
| Bronius Bradauskas | Kaišiadorių-Elektrėnų | LSDP | LSDPF | ||
| Saulius Bucevičius | Akmenės-Joniškio | DP | DPF | ||
| Dainius Budrys | Nationwide | TPP | TPPF ĄF (from 16 July 2009) TPPF (from 17 September 2009) LCSF (from 21 September 2010) LSDPF (from 12 April 2012) | ||
| Valentinas Bukauskas | Nationwide | DP | DPF | ||
| Andrius Burba | Nationwide | TPP | LCSF | From 18 November 2010 | |
| Algirdas Butkevičius | Vilkaviškio | LSDP | LSDPF | ||
| Algis Čaplikas | Nationwide | LCS | LCSF | ||
| Vida Marija Čigriejienė | Panemunės | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Rimantas Dagys | Šilainių | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Kęstutis Daukšys | Nationwide | DP | DPF | ||
| Julius Dautartas | Nevėžio | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Irena Degutienė | Naujamiesčio | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Laimontas Dinius | Nationwide | TPP | TPPF FVL (from 10 September 2009) KPF (from 11 February 2010) LSF (from 12 November 2010) | ||
| Algimantas Dumbrava | Zarasų-Visagino | TT | FTT | ||
| Arimantas Dumčius | Kalniečių | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Audrius Endzinas | Šilutės-Pagėgių | LRLS | LSF | ||
| Vytautas Galvonas | Nationwide | TT | FTT | ||
| Vytautas Gapšys | Nationwide | DP | DPF | ||
| Vydas Gedvilas | Nationwide | DP | DPF | ||
| Stanislovas Giedraitis | Mažeikių | Independent | LSDPF | ||
| Kęstutis Glaveckas | Dainavos | LRLS | LSF | ||
| Loreta Graužinienė | Nationwide | DP | DPF | ||
| Petras Gražulis | Gargždų | TT | FTT | ||
| Vytautas Grubliauskas | Danės | LRLS | LSF | Until 11 April 2011 | |
| Juozas Imbrasas | Nationwide | TT | Until 17 November 2008 | ||
| Jonas Jagminas | Plungės-Rietavo | LSDP | LSDPF MSNG (from 17 March 2011) | ||
| Donatas Jankauskas | Kauno kaimiškoji | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Edmundas Jonyla | Raseiniai | Raseinių | LSDP | LSDPF | |
| Rasa Juknevičienė | Žaliakalnio | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Jonas Juozapaitis | Pakruojo-Joniškio | LSDP | LSDPF | ||
| Evaldas Jurkevičius | Baltijos | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Česlovas Juršėnas | Nationwide | LSDP | LSDPF | ||
| Linas Karalius | Nationwide | TPP | TPPF FVL (from 10 September 2009) KPF (from 11 February 2010) | Until 11 November 2010 | |
| Justinas Karosas | Lazdijų-Druskininkų | LSDP | LSPDF | Until 6 June 2012 | |
| Algis Kašėta | Varėnos-Eišiškių | LRLS | LSF | ||
| Algis Kazulėnas | Rokiškio | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Ligitas Kernagis | Nationwide | TPP | TPPF FVL (from 10 September 2009) KPF (from 11 February 2010) | ||
| Gediminas Kirkilas | Nationwide | LSDP | LSDPF | ||
| Egidijus Klumbys | Nationwide | TT | FTT | ||
| Kęstas Komskis | Nationwide | TT | FTT | ||
| Jonas Kondrotas | Nationwide | DP | MSNG DPF (from 19 April 2011) | From 12 April 2011 | |
| Andrius Kubilius | Antakalnio | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Dalia Kuodytė | Nationwide | LRLS | LSF | ||
| Rytas Kupčinskas | Aleksoto-Vilijampolės | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Vytautas Kurpuvesas | Nationwide | TPP | TPPF FVL (from 10 September 2009) KPF (from 11 February 2010) MSNG (from 21 June 2012) | ||
| Kazimieras Kuzminskas | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Evaldas Lementauskas | Nationwide | TT | MSNG | ||
| Arminas Lydeka | Nationwide | LCS | LCSF MSNG (from 21 September 2010) LSF (from 23 September 2010) | ||
| Jonas Liesys | Trakų-Elektrėnų | LCS | LCSF | ||
| Petras Luomanas | Aukštaitijos | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Michal Mackevič | Širvintų-Vilniaus | LLRA | MSNG FTT (from 21 November 2008) | ||
| Vincė Vaidevutė Margevičienė | Centro | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Eligijus Masiulis | Marių | LRLS | LSF | ||
| Kęstutis Masiulis | Kelmės | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Antanas Matulas | Pasvalio-Panevėžio | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Vitas Matuzas | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Andrius Mazuronis | Nationwide | TT | FTT | ||
| Valentinas Mazuronis | Nationwide | TT | FTT | ||
| Donalda Meiželytė | Nationwide | TPP | TPPF FVL (from 10 September 2009) KPF (from 11 February 2010) | ||
| Artūras Melianas | Naujosios Vilnios | LCS | LCSF | ||
| Dangutė Mikutienė | Nationwide | DP | DPF | ||
| Albinas Mitrulevičius | Marijampolės | LSDP | LSDPF | From 27 February 2011 | |
| Jaroslav Narkevič | Vilniaus-Trakų | LLRA | MSNG FTT (from 21 November 2008) | ||
| Gediminas Navaitis | Nationwide | LRLS | LSF MSNG (from 21 June 2012) | ||
| Antanas Nedzinskas | Dzūkijos | TPP | TPPF ĄF (from 16 July 2009) TPPF (from 17 September 2009) LCSF (from 21 September 2010) | ||
| Juozas Olekas | Nationwide | LSDP | LSDPF | ||
| Juozas Palionis | Prienų | LSDP | LSDPF | Until 17 October 2011 | |
| Bronius Pauža | Jurbarko | LSDP | LSDPF | ||
| Marija Aušrinė Pavilionienė | Nationwide | LSDP | LSDPF | From 7 July 2009 | |
| Saulius Pečeliūnas | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Almantas Petkus | Telšių | TT | FTT | ||
| Milda Petrauskienė | Nationwide | LSDP | LSDPF | ||
| Jonas Pinskus | Nationwide | DP | DPF | Until 12 April 2011 | |
| Edmundas Pupinis | Utenos | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Naglis Puteikis | Danės | TS | MSNG TSLKDF (from 13 September 2011) | From 26 July 2011 | |
| Auksutė Ramanauskaitė-Skokauskienė | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Konstantas Ramelis | Ignalinos-Švenčionių | LVLS | MSNG | From 20 July 2011 | |
| Jonas Ramonas | Nationwide | TT | FTT KPF (from 11 February 2010) | ||
| Jurgis Razma | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Algis Rimas | Marijampolės | LSDP | LSDPF | Until 9 August 2010 | |
| Rimas Antanas Ručys | Nationwide | TT | FTT | ||
| Rūta Rutkelytė | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF | From 18 November 2008 | |
| Julius Sabatauskas | Nationwide | LSDP | LSDPF | ||
| Liudvikas Sabutis | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Aleksandr Sacharuk | Nationwide | TPP | TPPF FVL (from 10 September 2009) KPF (from 11 February 2010) | From 18 November 2008 | |
| Algimantas Salamakinas | Radviliškio | LSDP | LSDPF | ||
| Paulius Saudargas | Justiniškių | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Valerijus Simulik | Dainų | NS | MSNG TPPF (from 5 May 2009) FVL (from 10 September 2009) MSNG (from 22 September 2009) LSDPF (from 30 November 2010) | ||
| Rimantas Sinkevičius | Jonavos | LSDP | LSDPF | ||
| Algirdas Sysas | Nationwide | LSDP | LSDPF | ||
| Rimantas Smetona | Nationwide | TT | FTT | ||
| Gintaras Songaila | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF MSNG (from 10 September 2011) | ||
| Aurelija Stancikienė | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF MSNG (from 7 June 2012) | ||
| Jonas Stanevičius | Skuodo-Mažeikių | Independent | TPPF FVL (from 10 September 2009) KPF (from 11 February 2010) | ||
| Česlovas Vytautas Stankevičius | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Kazys Starkevičius | Pramonės | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Gintaras Steponavičius | Lazdynų | LRLS | LSF | ||
| Arūnė Stirblytė | Vakarinė | TPP | TPPF ĄF (from 16 July 2009) TPPF (from 17 September 2009) LCSF (from 21 September 2010) | ||
| Saulius Stoma | Nationwide | TPP | TPPF FVL (from 10 September 2009) TSLKDF (from 24 September 2009) MSNG (from 26 June 2012) | ||
| Valentinas Stundys | Molėtų-Švenčionių | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Stasys Šedbaras | Tauragės | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Andrius Šedžius | Saulės | LSDP | LSDPF MSNG (from 15 September 2010) | ||
| Irena Šiaulienė | Nationwide | LSDP | LSDPF | ||
| Žilvinas Šilgalis | Nationwide | LCS | LCSF MSNG (from 2 July 2010) | ||
| Jonas Šimėnas | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Raimondas Šukys | Fabijoniškių | LCS | LCSF | ||
| Leonard Talmont | Vilniaus-Šalčininkų | LLRA | FTT | From 24 November 2009 | |
| Erikas Tamašauskas | Nationwide | LRLS | LSF | ||
| Daiva Tamošiūnaitė | Nationwide | TPP | Until 17 November 2008 | ||
| Dalia Teišerskytė | Nationwide | LRLS | LSF | ||
| Valdemar Tomaševski | Vilniaus-Šalčininkų | LLRA | MSNG FTT (from 21 November 2008) | Until 21 June 2009 | |
| Kazimieras Uoka | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF MSNG (from 10 September 2011) | ||
| Kauno-Kėdainių | TS | TSLKDF | |||
| Viktor Uspaskich | Nationwide | DP | DPF | Until 15 June 2009 | |
| Zita Užlytė | Alytaus | TPP | TPPF FVL (from 10 September 2009) KPF (from 11 February 2010) | ||
| Arūnas Valinskas | Nationwide | TPP | TPPF ĄF (from 16 July 2009) TPPF (from 17 September 2009) LCSF (from 21 September 2010) | ||
| Ingrida Valinskienė | Nationwide | TPP | TPPF ĄF (from 16 July 2009) TPPF (from 17 September 2009) LCSF (from 21 September 2010) | ||
| Ona Valiukevičiūtė | Nationwide | TT | FTT | ||
| Valdemaras Valkiūnas | Biržų-Kupiškio | Independent | LCSF ĄF (from 16 July 2009) TPPF (from 17 July 2009) FVL (from 10 September 2009) KPF (from 11 February 2010) MSNG (from 30 March 2010) LCSF (from 2 July 2010) MSNG (from 30 June 2012) | ||
| Mantas Varaška | Suvalkijos | Independent | TPPF FVL (from 10 September 2009) KPF (from 11 February 2010) TSLKDF (from 10 March 2011) MSNG (from 19 April 2012) | ||
| Egidijus Vareikis | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Julius Veselka | Ukmergės | TT | FTT | ||
| Birutė Vėsaitė | Nationwide | LSDP | LSDPF | ||
| Arvydas Vidžiūnas | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Mečislovas Zasčiurinskas | Nationwide | DP | DPF | ||
| Emanuelis Zingeris | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Artūras Zuokas | Nationwide | LCS | LCSF | Until 30 November 2009 | |
| Agnė Zuokienė | Nationwide | LCS | MSNG | From 8 December 2009 | |
| Edvardas Žakaris | Aušros | LSDP | LSDPF | ||
| Pranas Žeimys | Pajūrio | TS | TSLKDF | ||
| Remigijus Žemaitaitis | Šilalės-Šilutės | TT | FTT | From 8 December 2009 | |
| Vidmantas Žiemelis | Nationwide | TS | TSLKDF KPF (from 16 March 2010) | ||
| Rokas Žilinskas | Nationwide | TPP | TPPF FVL (from 10 September 2009) KPF (from 11 February 2010) MSNG (from 19 April 2011) TSLKDF (from 23 June 2011) |