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Laurynas Kasčiūnas
Laurynas Kasčiūnas (born 8 January 1982) is a Lithuanian right-wing politician, political analyst, Member of the Seimas for the Homeland Union, and Minister of National Defence of Lithuania from 25 March 2024 to 11 December 2024, replacing Arvydas Anušauskas. He was elected chairman of Homeland Union on 9 February 2025, winning a landslide with 78% of the vote. Background Kasčiūnas was born in the Lazdynai eldership in Vilnius in 1982 and graduated from the Ažuolynas Gymnasium in 2000. He studied political science in Vilnius University and graduated with a Doctor of Social Science degree in 2012. From 2007 to 2016, he also lectured in the political science faculty of the university. From 2012 to 2016, he was employed as a department manager in the Vilnius-based think tank East Europe Studies Centre. In 2016, he unsuccessfully ran for the Seimas in the southern Dzūkija (No. 69) constituency with the Homeland Union, but entered parliament via the party's list. He was re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Homeland Union
The Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (, TS–LKD), also colloquially known as the Conservatives (), is a centre-right political party in Lithuania. It has 18,000 members and 28 of 141 seats in the Seimas. Its current leader is Laurynas Kasčiūnas following the resignation of Gabrielius Landsbergis in 2024 after the party's loss in the recent election. It is a member of the European People's Party (EPP). Since 1996, the party has included the western house martin in its various logos over the years. Platform It is the main centre-right party, and has been traditionally allied to other centre-right or liberal parties such as the Liberals' Movement, Freedom Party, Liberal and Centre Union or the National Resurrection Party with which they are usually grouped together and formed coalitions in the past. The Homeland Union is conservative. For most of its existence, it has explicitly defined itself as anti-communist (mainly because the main opposition ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Think Tank
A think tank, or public policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmental organizations, but some are semi-autonomous agencies within a government, and some are associated with particular political parties, businesses, or the military. Think tanks are often funded by individual donations, with many also accepting government grants. Think tanks publish articles and studies, and sometimes draft legislation on particular matters of policy or society. This information is then used by governments, businesses, media organizations, social movements, or other interest groups. Think tanks range from those associated with highly academic or scholarly activities to those that are overtly ideological and pushing for particular policies, with a wide range among them in terms of the quality of their research. Later gener ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2016 Lithuanian Parliamentary Election
Parliamentary elections were held in Lithuania on 9 and 23 October 2016 to elect the 141 members of the Seimas. 71 were elected in single-member constituencies using the two-round system, and the remaining 70 in a single nationwide constituency using proportional representation. The first round was held on 9 October and the second round on 23 October. The Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union emerged as the largest party with 22% of the popular vote and 54 seats, up from just 4% and a single seat in the previous elections in 2012. The success of the party was attributed to voter dissatisfaction with established parties in light of low wages and persistent emigration. Homeland Union, the largest opposition party in the preceding Seimas, finished a distant second with 31 seats, though winning a slightly larger share of the national vote. The parties of the outgoing government suffered major losses, falling from 78 seats to 28. The Social Democratic Party of Lithuania, which had b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Special Investigation Service
The Special Investigation Service or STT () is a law enforcement institution in Lithuania serving under the Seimas and the President of Lithuania to combat corruption. With departments in Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Panevėžys, its objectives are to identify and investigate cases of corruption as well as to prevent it through education and introduction of improved procedures in the public sector. History With growing awareness of corruption in 1990s and several scandals (most notable of them was linked to the Prime Minister Adolfas Šleževičius), the Homeland Union won 1996 Lithuanian parliamentary election. The newly formed Lithuanian government, led by Gediminas Vagnorius, decided in 1997 to establish a separate organization for addressing the problem. It was done by government's decree. Main task of the STT was detection and detention of corrupt and abusive of power officials (civil servants, judges and so). The STT was accordingly established and for its first ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Irena Degutienė
Irena Degutienė (born 1 June 1949) is a Lithuanian politician and member of the conservative Homeland Union (Conservatives, Political Prisoners and Deportees, Christian Democrats), Homeland Union. She is currently the Deputy Speaker of Seimas, and was twice the acting Prime Minister of Lithuania, first from 4 May 1999 to 18 May 1999 and then from 27 October 1999 to 3 November 1999. She has also been the Speaker of Seimas from 15 September 2009 to 14 September 2012, as well as Ministry of Social Security and Labour (Lithuania), Minister for Social Security and Labour from 1996 to 2000. In 1978, she graduated from Vilnius University with a degree in medicine. For almost twenty years, she worked in Vilnius Red Cross Hospital before becoming a secretary in the Ministry of Health (Lithuania), Ministry of Health in 1994. She was initially elected to Seimas in 1996. Degutienė is the first woman to be Speaker of Seimas in History of Lithuania, Lithuania's history. MG Baltic bribery sca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Same-sex Marriage
Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same legal Legal sex and gender, sex. marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 38 countries, with a total population of 1.5 billion people (20% of the world's population). The most recent jurisdiction to legalize same-sex marriage is Recognition of same-sex unions in Thailand, Thailand. Same-sex marriage is legally recognized in a large majority of the world's developed country, developed countries; notable exceptions are Recognition of same-sex unions in Italy, Italy, Recognition of same-sex unions in Japan, Japan, Recognition of same-sex unions in South Korea, South Korea and the Recognition of same-sex unions in the Czech Republic, Czech Republic. Same-sex adoption, Adoption rights are not necessarily covered, though most states with same-sex marriage allow those couples to jointly adopt as other married couples can. Some countries, such as Nigeria and Russ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Immigration
Immigration is the international movement of people to a destination country of which they are not usual residents or where they do not possess nationality in order to settle as Permanent residency, permanent residents. Commuting, Commuters, Tourism, tourists, and other short-term stays in a destination country do not fall under the definition of immigration or migration; Seasonal industry, seasonal labour immigration is sometimes included, however. Economically, research suggests that migration can be beneficial both to the receiving and sending countries. The academic literature provides mixed findings for the relationship between immigration and crime worldwide. Research shows that country of origin matters for speed and depth of immigrant assimilation, but that there is considerable assimilation overall for both first- and second-generation immigrants. Discrimination based on nationality is legal in most countries. Extensive evidence of discrimination against foreign-b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2003 Lithuanian European Union Membership Referendum
The 2003 Lithuanian European Union referendum took place from 10 May to 11 May 2003 to decide whether Lithuania should join the European Union (EU). Over 90% of those who voted supported membership and Lithuania joined the EU on 1 May 2004. Background Lithuania was invited to begin negotiations to join the EU in December 1999 at a European Council summit in Helsinki and was formally invited to join the EU in December 2002 at a summit in Copenhagen. In June 2002 and February 2003 the Lithuanian Parliament amended Lithuania's laws on referendums. Previously, for a referendum to pass, 50% of the voters had to vote and over 50% of all eligible registered voters had to support the proposal. After the amendment only a simple majority of participants in favour was required for the referendum to pass, while still having the requirement for turnout to be over 50%. To help reach the turnout requirement, the voting hours were extended, postal voting was allowed for 11 days before the refe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated population of over 449million as of 2024. The EU is often described as a ''sui generis'' political entity combining characteristics of both a federation and a confederation. Containing 5.5% of the world population in 2023, EU member states generated a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of around €17.935 trillion in 2024, accounting for approximately one sixth of global economic output. Its cornerstone, the European Union Customs Union, Customs Union, paved the way to establishing European Single Market, an internal single market based on standardised European Union law, legal framework and legislation that applies in all member states in those matters, and only those matters, where the states ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mindaugas Murza
Mindaugas Gervaldas (né Murza; born 16 December, 1973) is a Lithuanian radical nationalist and a Neo-Nazi. He was a member of the Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces (a Lithuanian government-sponsored paramilitary organization). He has been a member, founder, and chairman of several different Neo-Nazi political parties. Only one party, the National Democratic Party of Lithuania, was officially registered and participated in the 2003 municipal elections. Murza and three others were elected to the council of the Šiauliai City Municipality. Political ventures In 1993, members of the Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces (SKAT) founded the underground Lithuanian National Independence Union ( or LNNS). Murza, then a SKAT sergeant, became leader of LNNS in December 1993. The organization established a combat group and sought to collect weapons for about 30 men who would be "efficient fighters" and "not afraid to die". Murza's home was searched in 1995 and in February 199 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Far-right
Far-right politics, often termed right-wing extremism, encompasses a range of ideologies that are marked by ultraconservatism, authoritarianism, ultranationalism, and nativism. This political spectrum situates itself on the far end of the right, distinguished from more mainstream right-wing ideologies by its opposition to liberal democratic norms and emphasis on exclusivist views. Far-right ideologies have historically included fascism, Nazism, and Falangism, while contemporary manifestations also incorporate neo-fascism, neo-Nazism, white supremacy, and various other movements characterized by chauvinism, xenophobia, and theocratic or reactionary beliefs. Key to the far-right worldview is the notion of societal purity, often invoking ideas of a homogeneous "national" or "ethnic" community. This view generally promotes organicism, which perceives society as a unified, natural entity under threat from diversity or modern pluralism. Far-right movements frequently targe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is the presidential library and burial site of Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States (1981–1989), and his wife Nancy Reagan. Located in Simi Valley, California, the library is administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The library opened in 1991 and houses the repository of presidential records from the Reagan administration. The library contains millions of documents, photographs, films and tapes. It also contains memorabilia and a permanent exhibit of Ronald Reagan's life. Planning The first person to propose a site for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library was W. Glenn Campbell, director of the Hoover Institution, a conservative think tank much used by Reagan for policy positions. Campbell contacted Ronald Reagan in February 1981 to say that the Hoover Institution was willing to host the Reagan Library at their headquarters on the campus of Stanford University in Northern California. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
