Peasants and New Democratic Party Union
Encyclopedia
Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union is an Agrarian
centre-left
political party in Lithuania
led by industrial farmer Ramūnas Karbaukis.
The party adopted its current name in February 2006. It had previously been known as "Valstiečių ir Naujosios demokratijos partijų sąjungos", or VNDS, which translates to the "Peasants and New Democratic Party Union" or "Union of Peasants and New Democratic Parties". This name stemmed from its origin as an electoral alliance
between the Lithuanian Peasants Party (Lietuvos valstiečių partija) and the New Democratic Party (Naujosios demokratijos partija), which merged to form the Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union.
In the 2004 European Parliamentary Elections
, the party gained 7.4% of the vote and won one MEP
, who joined the Union for Europe of the Nations
group.
Its candidate Kazimiera Prunskienė gained 21.4 % of the vote in the first round and 47.4 % in the second round in the presidential elections of 13 June 2004. At the legislative elections
on 10 October 2004, the party won 6.6 % of the popular vote and 10 out of 141 seats.
In the legislative elections
of 2008
, the party experienced heavy losses, gaining only 3 out of its previous 10 seats in the Seimas and 3.74% of the national vote, continuing the party's tenure in opposition.
In the 2009 European parliament election
the party got a mere 1.82% and lost its representation.
newspaper, and it was one of major political parties in the interbellum Republic of Lithuania. It had split from the Lithuanian Democratic Party
and its driving force included the third President Kazys Grinius
and three-term Prime Minister
Mykolas Sleževičius
. The party was active in 1922-1936 until it was banned, and was reborn after the controversial Peasants and New Democratic Party Union
, led by Lithuanian politician Kazimiera Prunskienė, chose to rename it to the current name in February 2006.
Agrarianism
Agrarianism has two common meanings. The first meaning refers to a social philosophy or political philosophy which values rural society as superior to urban society, the independent farmer as superior to the paid worker, and sees farming as a way of life that can shape the ideal social values...
centre-left
Centre-left
Centre-left is a political term that describes individuals, political parties or organisations such as think tanks whose ideology lies between the centre and the left on the left-right spectrum...
political party in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
led by industrial farmer Ramūnas Karbaukis.
The party adopted its current name in February 2006. It had previously been known as "Valstiečių ir Naujosios demokratijos partijų sąjungos", or VNDS, which translates to the "Peasants and New Democratic Party Union" or "Union of Peasants and New Democratic Parties". This name stemmed from its origin as an electoral alliance
Electoral alliance
An electoral alliance may take the form of a bipartisan electoral agreement, electoral agreement, electoral coalition or electoral bloc. It is an association of political parties or individuals which exists solely to stand in elections...
between the Lithuanian Peasants Party (Lietuvos valstiečių partija) and the New Democratic Party (Naujosios demokratijos partija), which merged to form the Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union.
In the 2004 European Parliamentary Elections
European Parliament election, 2004 (Lithuania)
The European Parliament election of 2004 in Lithuania was the election of MEP representing Lithuania constituency for the 2004-2009 term of the European Parliament. It was part of the wider 2004 European election. The vote took place on June 13.-Results:...
, the party gained 7.4% of the vote and won one MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
, who joined the Union for Europe of the Nations
Union for Europe of the Nations
Union for Europe of the Nations was a political group of the European Parliament between 1999 and 2009.-History:UEN was formed on 20 July 1999, supplanting the earlier Union for Europe. Its member parties Fianna Fáil and National Alliance were the driving forces behind the group, despite their...
group.
Its candidate Kazimiera Prunskienė gained 21.4 % of the vote in the first round and 47.4 % in the second round in the presidential elections of 13 June 2004. At the legislative elections
Elections in Lithuania
Elections in Lithuania gives information on election and election results in Lithuania.Lithuania elects on national level a head of state—the president—and a legislature. The president is elected for a five year term by the people...
on 10 October 2004, the party won 6.6 % of the popular vote and 10 out of 141 seats.
In the legislative elections
Elections in Lithuania
Elections in Lithuania gives information on election and election results in Lithuania.Lithuania elects on national level a head of state—the president—and a legislature. The president is elected for a five year term by the people...
of 2008
Lithuanian parliamentary election, 2008
A parliamentary election was held in Lithuania in two stages on 12 and 26 October 2008. A failed referendum on extending the operation of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant was held at the same time, despite the fact that Lithuania is obliged to close down Ignalina per its treaty of accession to the...
, the party experienced heavy losses, gaining only 3 out of its previous 10 seats in the Seimas and 3.74% of the national vote, continuing the party's tenure in opposition.
In the 2009 European parliament election
European Parliament election, 2009
Elections to the European Parliament were held in the 27 member states of the European Union between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history...
the party got a mere 1.82% and lost its representation.
History
The party roots stem from the national revival movement based around the VarpasVarpas
Varpas was a monthly Lithuanian-language newspaper published during the Lithuanian press ban from January 1889 to December 1905...
newspaper, and it was one of major political parties in the interbellum Republic of Lithuania. It had split from the Lithuanian Democratic Party
Lithuanian Democratic Party
Lithuanian Democratic Party or LDP , established on October 17, 1902, was the second-oldest political party in Lithuania, then part of the Russian Empire. It published newspapers Lietuvos ūkininkas and Lietuvos žinios . During World War I, the democratic party split into several other parties and...
and its driving force included the third President Kazys Grinius
Kazys Grinius
Kazys Grinius was the third President of Lithuania, and held that office from 7 June 1926 to 17 December 1926.When Grinius was born in Selema, near Marijampolė, Lithuania was part of the Russian empire. He studied medicine at the University of Moscow and became a physician...
and three-term Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Lithuania
The Prime Minister of Lithuania is the head of the executive arm of Lithuania's government, and is chosen by the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas. The modern office of Prime Minister was established in 1990, although the official title was "Chairperson of the Council of Ministers" until 25...
Mykolas Sleževičius
Mykolas Sleževicius
Mykolas Sleževičius was a Lithuanian lawyer, political figure, and journalist, who served as Prime Minister of Lithuania on two occasions.- Early life :...
. The party was active in 1922-1936 until it was banned, and was reborn after the controversial Peasants and New Democratic Party Union
Peasants and New Democratic Party Union
Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union is an Agrarian centre-left political party in Lithuania led by industrial farmer Ramūnas Karbaukis.The party adopted its current name in February 2006...
, led by Lithuanian politician Kazimiera Prunskienė, chose to rename it to the current name in February 2006.