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Parliament name (generic / translated) Seimas / Parliament More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Unicameral Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1923 - 1928 1991 - LEADERSHIP President Viktoras Pranckietis (M)  Notes Elected on 14 Nov. 2016. Secretary General Daiva Raudoniene (F)  Notes Appointed on 18 Dec. 2014. COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 141 / 141 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 30 (21.28%) Mode of designation directly elected 141 Term 4 years Last renewal dates 9 October 2016 23 October 2016 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address Seimas 53 Gedimino Ave. LT- 01109 Vilnius LITHUANIA (Export mailing lists) Phone (370 5) 239 64 93 Fax (370 5) 239 63 39 E-mail laura.sumskiene@lrs.lt Website http://www.lrs.lt

Parliament name (generic / translated) Seimas / Parliament Structure of parliament Unicameral LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 25 October 1962 Last amendment: 27/06/1996 Mode of designation directly elected 141 Constituencies - 71 single-member constituencies - 1 multi-member (70 seats) nationwide constituency Voting system Mixed: Mixed system: - A candidate shall be considered elected in a single-member constituency, if not less than 40 percent of the registered voters of that constituency have participated in the elections, and the said candidate has received more than half the votes cast by the registered voters. If less than 40 percent of the registered voters of that constituency have participated in the elections, the candidate who has received the majority, but not less than one-fifth of the votes cast by all the registered voters of that constituency, shall be considered to have been elected. - If more than two candidates have participated in the elections and none has been elected pursuant to above-mentioned procedure, a second poll is held after two weeks, in which the two candidates who have received the majority of votes shall participate In this case, the candidate who has received more votes, regardless of the number of voters, shall be considered to have been elected. In the event of a tie, the candidate who received more votes during the initial poll shall be declared elected. If both candidates received an equal amount of votes during the initial poll, lots are drawn to determine the winner. - nationwide party-list proportional system, on the basis of the simple quotient and greatest remainders rules, with the country as a whole forming one constituency (for 70 seats). In order for the election to be valid, at least 25% of the electorate must have cast its vote. - Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections (in the single-member constituencies) or by the "next-in-line" candidates of the same party (in the multi-member constituency). Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - age: 18 years - Lithuanian citizenship - disqualifications: incapability declared by a court of law CANDIDATES Eligibility Qualified electors - age: 25 years - Lithuanian citizenship - permanent residence in Lithuania - ineligibility: past service of court-imposed sentence Incompatibilities - membership of the armed forces, police and similar services Candidacy requirements - candidatures submitted by duly registered political parties, or individuals (in single-member constituencies) with the support of no less than 1,000 electors. A security deposit equal to one average monthly wage must be paid. This sum is reimbursed if the individual candidate wins. - lists of not less than 25 candidates (in multi-member constituencies) submitted by duly registered political parties. A security deposit equal to 20 average monthly wages must be paid. This sum is reimbursed if the list becomes eligible for distribution of seats by having obtained at least 5% of the votes cast.

Parliament name (generic / translated) Seimas / Parliament Structure of parliament Unicameral BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) (from/to) 9 October 2016 23 October 2016 Timing and scope of renewal The Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union (LVZS), which held only one seat in the outgoing legislature, won a surprise victory, taking 54 seats in the 141-member Parliament. Mr. Saulius Skvernelis, a popular former police chief, led the LVLS election campaign together with the party chairman and wealthy businessman, Mr. Ramunas Karbauskis. Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius' Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) - the largest party in the outgoing legislature - finished third, behind the Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD), led by Mr. Gabrielius Landsbergis. On 9 November, the LVZS and the LSDP signed a coalition agreement. The 2016 elections were the first to be held since the country introduced the euro in 2015. During the election campaign, the major parties focused on economic growth, stopping the emigration of Lithuanians and measures to raise living standards and minimum wages. Over the last ten years, the growth rate halved to around 2-3% per year and the population has fallen from 3.3 to 2.9 million people. Note: New boundaries were used for the 71 single-member constituencies following the October 2015 ruling of the Constitutional Court which ruled the previous constituencies unconstitutional (due to a 50-per-cent population disparity between the largest and smallest constituencies). The Election Commission re-allotted the constituency boundaries in December 2015. Date of previous elections: 14 & 28 October 2012 Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 14 November 2016 Timing of election: Upon normal expiry Expected date of next elections: October 2020 Number of seats at stake: 141 (full renewal) Number of candidates: 1,415 (973 men, 442 women) Percentage of women candidates: 31.2% Number of parties contesting the election: 14* *including 2 coalitions. Number of parties winning seats: 10 Alternation of power: Yes Date of the first session of the new parliament: 14 November 2016 Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Viktoras Pranckietis (Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union, LVZS) STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 (from/to) 9 October 2016 23 October 2016 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 2'514'657 1'272'734 (50.61%) Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes Lithuanian Peasant and Green Union (LVZS) Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) Liberals Movement of the Republic of Lithuania (LRLS) Lithuanian Poles' Electoral Action (LLRA-KSS) Order and Justice Party (PTT) Independents Labour Party (DP) Lithuanian Green Party (LZS) Political Party "List of Lithuania" (PPLS) Lithuanian Centre Party (LCP) Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Multi-member Single-member Lithuanian Peasant and Green Union (LVZS) 54 19 35 Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) 31 20 11 Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) 17 13 4 Liberals Movement of the Republic of Lithuania (LRLS) 14 8 6 Lithuanian Poles' Electoral Action (LLRA-KSS) 8 5 3 Order and Justice Party (PTT) 8 5 3 Independents 4 0 4 Labour Party (DP) 2 0 2 Lithuanian Green Party (LZS) 1 0 1 Political Party "List of Lithuania" (PPLS) 1 0 1 Lithuanian Centre Party (LCP) 1 0 1 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 111 30 21.28% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Source: Parliament (02.11.2016) The Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Lithuania (14.11.2016) http://www.vrk.lt/en/2016-seimo/rezultatai?srcUrl=/rinkimai/102/2/1306/rezultatai/en/rezultataiIsrinktiNariai.html http://www.vrk.lt/en/2016-seimo/rezultatai?srcUrl=/rinkimai/102/1/1304/rezultatai/en/rezultataiVienm.html http://www.bbc.com/ http://www.euronews.com http://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/doc/oee/oee-1670-en.pdf http://www.truelithuania.com/ http://www.baltictimes.com http://www.baltic-course.com

Parliament name (generic / translated) Seimas / Parliament Structure of parliament Unicameral APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title Speaker of the Seimas Term - duration: 4 years (term of House) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Seimas Appointment - elected by all Members of the Seimas - the election is held at the opening sitting of the newly elected Seimas, 15 days after the legislative elections - after mandates have been validated and Members have been sworn in Eligibility - any Member of the Seimas may be a candidate but his/her formal application must be supported by at least one-tenth of the Members of Parliament Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot - a simple majority is required several rounds may be held and the candidates who have obtained the least votes must withdraw Procedures / results - the senior Member presides over the Seimas during the voting - the Vote-Counting Committee supervises the voting - the outgoing Chairman announces the results without delay - the results may be challenged STATUS Status - ranks second in the hierarchy of State - can act as interim Head of State in certain cases - represents the Seimas in international bodies - in the absence of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman can assume his/her role and functions in agreement with the Seimas Board - is regulated by the Standing Orders - consists of the Chairman, three Vice-Chairmen and the Leaders of the parliamentary groups - meets twice weekly at the initiative of the Chairman - is in fact a collegiate presidency Material facilities - allowance + expense allowance - official car - secretariat - bodyguards FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - organizes the debates and sets speaking time - announces the bills and amendments adopted - refers texts to a committee for study, in agreement with the Seimas - examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting-up of such committees, in agreement with the Seimas The Board of the Seimas convenes sessions Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the Seimas - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - gives and withdraws permission to speak, alternating between majority and opposition MPs - calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates - has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates, in agreement with the Seimas Special powers The Board of the Seimas: - establishes the budget - recruits, assigns and promotes staff - appoints the Clerk - organizes the services of Parliament - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Seimas Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates - may vote last - proposes bills or amendments by leaving his seat - intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure - signs laws before transmitting them to the Head of State for promulgation - is empowered to nominate three justices to the Constitutional Court

This page was last updated on 30 November 2016
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