The Lithuanian Democratic Party ( lt, Lietuvių demokratų partija, LDP) was a political party in Lithuania The original party was established in 1902. It published newspapers ''

Lietuvos ūkininkas ''Lietuvos ūkininkas'' (literally: ''Lithuanian farmer'') was a weekly Lithuanian-language newspaper published between 1905 and 1940. It was published by and reflected the political views of the Lithuanian Democratic Party, Peasant Union, and Lith ...

'' (1905–1918) and ''

Lietuvos žinios ''Lietuvos žinios'' (literally: ''News of Lithuania'') was a daily newspaper in Lithuania. Established in Vilnius in 1909, it was a liberal newspaper representing the Lithuanian Democratic Party. Even though its publication was interrupted by Wor ...

'' (1909–1915). During World War I, the party split into several other parties and was disbanded in 1920. A new party under the same name was established in 1989.

History

Original party

The party was established on 17 October 1902 at count

Zubov The Zubovs (russian: Зу́бов) were a Russian noble family, rose to occupy some of the highest offices of state in the 1790s, when Platon Zubov became the last favourite of Empress Catherine the Great (). The Zubovs were first noticed i ...

manor in Dabikinė near

Akmenė Akmenė () is a city in northern Lithuania. Following the discovery of large reserves of limestone and clay in the region, in 1947 construction work began on one of the largest cement production complexes in the Baltic States. Nearby, a new town ...

by activists publishing ''

Varpas ''Varpas'' (literally: ''The Bell'') was a monthly Lithuanian-language newspaper published during the Lithuanian press ban from January 1889 to December 1905. Because its publication was illegal in Lithuania, then part of the Russian Empire, it wa ...

''. In 1906, it adopted a political program prepared by

Kazys Grinius Kazys Grinius (, 17 December 18664 June 1950) was the third President of Lithuania, and held that office from 7 June 1926 to 17 December 1926. Previously, he had served as the fifth Prime Minister of Lithuania, from 19 June 1920 until his resignat ...

Jonas Vileišis Jonas Vileišis (January 3, 1872 – June 1, 1942) was a Lithuanian lawyer, politician, and diplomat. Early life and career Vileišis was born in Mediniai, near Pasvalys. In 1892 he graduated from the Šiauliai Gymnasium. During 1892-1894, he ...

Povilas Višinskis Povilas Višinskis (; 28 June 1875 – 23 April 1906) was a Lithuanian cultural and political activist during the Lithuanian National Revival. He is best remembered as a mentor of literary talent. He discovered Julija Žymantienė (Žemaitė) an ...

, Juozas Bortkevičius and

Jurgis Šaulys Jurgis Šaulys (; 1879–1948) was a Lithuanian economist, diplomat, and politician, and one of the twenty signatories to the 1918 Act of Independence of Lithuania. Šaulys attended secondary school in Palanga and attended the Kaunas Theolo ...

. The goals of the party were to seek autonomy status for ethnic Lithuania within the Russian Empire. The local governance would be delegated to parochial committees, which could collect taxes. The program supported education and cooperation, promoted participation in public life, and advocated national unity. The party supported wealthier farmers, therefore during the

Great Seimas of Vilnius The Great Seimas of Vilnius ( lt, Didysis Vilniaus Seimas, also known as the ''Great Assembly of Vilnius'', the ''Grand Diet of Vilnius'', or the ''Great Diet of Vilnius'') was a major assembly held on December 4 and 5, 1905 (November 21–22, 19 ...

of 1905 it opposed land reform that would have confiscated land from large landlords and distributed it to small peasants. After the Seimas, LDP sponsored the formation of the

Peasant Union The Peasant Union ( lt, Valstiečių sąjunga, VS) was a political party in Lithuania. History The party was formed by younger members of the Lithuanian Democratic Party following the Revolution of 1905.Vincent E McHale (1983) ''Political partie ...

, which initially was a branch of LDP. Some member of LDP founded the Lithuanian National Democratic Party (Lithuanian: ''Tautiškoji lietuvių demokratų partija''), headed by

Jonas Basanavičius Jonas Basanavičius (, pl, Jan Basanowicz; 23 November 1851 – 16 February 1927) was an activist and proponent of the Lithuanian National Revival. He participated in every major event leading to the independent Lithuanian state and is often give ...

. A new program by Albinas Rimka was adopted in 1914 and the party was renamed into the Democratic Party of Lithuania (Lithuanian: ''Lietuvos demokratų partija''). Some members, including Petras Leonas and Andrius Bulota, of the party were elected into the

State Duma of the Russian Empire The State Duma, also known as the Imperial Duma, was the lower house of the Governing Senate in the Russian Empire, while the upper house was the State Council. It held its meetings in the Taurida Palace in St. Petersburg. It convened four time ...

. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, many activists evacuated into Russia. In 1917, the right wing faction formed the Lithuanian Socialist Popular Democratic Party (Lithuanian: ''Lietuvos socialistų liaudininkų demokratų partija''); another fraction formed the Lithuanian Socialist Popular Party (Lithuanian: ''Lietuvos socialistų liaudininkų partija''). The LDP, which remained in Lithuania, was in essence inactive but still officially in existence. Two of its members,

and

Petras Vileišis Petras Vileišis (25 January 1851 – 12 August 1926) was a prominent Lithuanian engineer specializing in the construction of railroad bridges. He was very active in Lithuanian public life and together with his brothers Jonas and Antanas became ...

, were elected to the Council of Lithuania, which adopted the

Act of Independence of Lithuania The Act of Independence of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Nepriklausomybės Aktas) or the Act of February 16, also the Lithuanian Resolution on Independence ( lt, Lietuvos Nepriklausomybės Nutarimas), The signed document is actually titled simply '' ...

in February 1918. The council ceased to exist in May 1920 when it was replaced by the

Constituent Assembly of Lithuania The Constituent Assembly of Lithuania ( lt, Steigiamasis Seimas) was the first parliament of the independent state of Lithuania to be elected in a direct, democratic, general, secret election. The Assembly assumed its duties on 15 May 1920 and w ...

. The LDP was formally dissolved on 15 May 1920.

New party

A new Lithuanian Democratic Party was established on 4 February 1989, chaired by

Saulius Pečeliūnas Saulius Pečeliūnas (born 19 January 1956) is a Lithuanian politician. In 1990 he was among those who signed the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. References Biography 1961 births Living people Vilnius Gediminas T ...

. The party won three seats in the 1990 Supreme Soviet elections. It formed an alliance with the

Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party The Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party ( lt, Lietuvos krikščionių demokratų partija, LKDP) was a Christian-democratic political party in Lithuania. History Russian Empire and Republic of Lithuania A Christian Democratic movement was e ...

and the Lithuanian Union of Political Prisoners and Deportees to contest the 1992 elections, with the alliance winning a total of 18 seats. The LDP contested the 1996 elections in an alliance with the Lithuanian Nationalist Union. The alliance won a total of six seats, with the LDP taking two. The

2000 elections The following elections occurred in the year 2000. Africa * 2000 Ethiopian general election * 2000 Ghanaian presidential election * 1999–2000 Guinea-Bissau general election * 2000–01 Ivorian parliamentary election * 2000 Ivorian preside ...

saw the LDP run as part of the Union of "Young Lithuania", New Nationalists and Political Prisoners. However, it failed to win a seat.

References

{{Authority control Political parties of the Russian Revolution Political parties established in 1902 Defunct political parties in Lithuania Political parties of minorities in Imperial Russia Political parties disestablished in 1920 Political parties established in 1989 1902 establishments in Lithuania 1902 establishments in the Russian Empire 1920 disestablishments in Lithuania 1989 establishments in Lithuania pl:Litewska Partia Demokratyczna