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Gintautas Paluckas

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Gintautas Paluckas
Paluckas in 2023
18th Prime Minister of Lithuania
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 December 2024
PresidentGitanas Nausėda
Preceded byIngrida Šimonytė
Member of the Seimas
Incumbent
Assumed office
13 November 2020
ConstituencyMulti-member
Leader of the Social Democratic Party
In office
6 May 2017 – 22 January 2021
Preceded byAlgirdas Butkevičius
Succeeded byVilija Blinkevičiūtė
Deputy Mayor of Vilnius
In office
22 April 2015 – 24 April 2019
MayorRemigijus Šimašius
Preceded byJonas Pinskus
Succeeded byVytautas Mitalas
Personal details
Born (1979-08-19) 19 August 1979 (age 45)
Panevėžys, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
Political partySocial Democratic (2003–present)
SpouseIlma Paluckė
Children2
EducationJuozas Balčikonis Gymnasium
Alma materVilnius University

Gintautas Paluckas (Lithuanian: [ˈɡʲɪntˠɐʊtˠɐs pˠɐˈlˠʊtskˠɐs]; born 19 August 1979) is a Lithuanian politician serving as the 18th prime minister of Lithuania since December 2024. Paluckas served as Deputy Mayor of Vilnius from 2015 to 2019, as the leader of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) from 2017 to 2021 and has been a member of the Seimas since the 2020 election.

In the 2024 Lithuanian parliamentary election, Paluckas ran in the single-member constituency of Utena but finished third. Despite this, the LSDP won the overall election, and Paluckas secured a seat in the Seimas via the party's proportional representation list. Subsequently, he was nominated and confirmed as Prime Minister of Lithuania.[1] The inclusion of the Dawn of Nemunas in the ruling coalition sparked controversy and condemnation from human rights organizations and Lithuania's Jewish community.[2][3]

Education

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Gintautas Paluckas was born on 19 August 1979 in Panevėžys.[4] His father worked as an engineer and his mother as an economist.[5] In 1997 Paluckas graduated from Panevėžys J. Balčikonis Gymnasium. From 2000 to 2001 he studied English at a language school in London.[6] In 2003, he graduated from the Vilnius University Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, and from International Business School in 2004. Starting that year, he studied at VU Faculty of Law.[7]

Political career

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For a brief period in his youth,[when?] Paluckas belonged to the Young Conservative League [lt], the youth wing of the Homeland Union.[8][9] Since 2003, he has been a member of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP).[8][9]

From 2003 to 2005 he served as the Chief Specialist at the Lithuanian social insurance institution [lt] (Sodra).[5] Starting in 2005 he served as the Assistant to European Parliament member Justas Paleckis. From 2007 to 2009 he was Director of Administration of the Vilnius city municipality.[7]

From 2013 Paluckas was Executive Secretary of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, Member of the LSDP Council and Board.

From 2015 to 2019 Paluckas served as Deputy Mayor of Vilnius.[4] During the peak of the 2015 European migrant crisis, he proposed that the city consider forming Arabic-language kindergarten groups to accommodate incoming refugees.[10]

Leader of the Social Democratic Party

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In 2017 Paluckas won the leadership election of the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania after defeating then-Minister of Economy Mindaugas Sinkevičius in a run-off.[11][12] During the election, Paluckas emphasized renewal of the party and restoration of social democratic values, and criticized the party's decision to form a coalition with the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union.[13] Under Paluckas's leadership, the party announced a renewal[14] and introduced a new party program, in which it affirmed commitment to progressive taxation, encouragement of worker cooperatives, women's rights and LGBT rights, and support for NATO and the European Union, while at the same time opposing European austerity policies.[15] Paluckas's opponent Mindaugas Sinkevičius filed a complaint on the leadership election due to alleged violations in the Molėtai party section, as well as alleged suspicions of electoral fraud in Pasvalys, Akmenė, Vilkaviškis and Raseiniai.[16][17]

After the leadership election of the LSDP, the party decided to leave the ruling coalition via a survey of all its members. A majority of the LSDP's Seimas members left the party to form a new one, the Social Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania (LSDDP), and remained in the ruling coalition.[18] According to former party leader and Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius, Paluckas began to divide his own and foreign members, and then split the party and monitored those who supported his party rival Mindaugas Sinkevičius in the election for party leader.[19]

Paluckas was reelected as leader of the party in 2019.[20]

In 2019, Paluckas ran in a parliamentary by-election in the Žirmūnai constituency of Vilnius. This parliamentary seat had been occupied by Aušra Maldeikienė, but was vacated following her election to the European Parliament.[21] Paulė Kuzmickienė won with 52.03% of the vote, compared to Paluckas's 46.98%. Paluckas blamed his loss on low voter turnout.[22]

2020 Lithuanian parliamentary election

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In 2020 Paluckas was elected to the Lithuanian parliament as the leader of the party. He finished second in the single-member constituency of Utena,[23] following a recount due to receiving exactly the same number of votes as his opponent in the initial tally.[24] Nonetheless, Paluckas secured a seat in the nationwide constituency using proportional representation.[25] However, following the 2020 parliamentary election, in which the LSDP saw a reduction in its seats—from seventeen to thirteen—Paluckas was challenged over the party's performance.[26] He also faced criticism over his decision to support the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union candidates in the second round of elections.[citation needed] Initially, he stated his willingness to take part in the leadership elections of 2021.

Resignation

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On 22 January 2021, Paluckas resigned from his position as leader of the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania, responding to the party council's assessment that the 2020 Lithuanian parliamentary election results were unsatisfactory and that his leadership did not meet the expected standards.[27][26]

2024 Lithuanian parliamentary election

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Paluckas, the Deputy Leader of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), participated in the 2024 Lithuanian parliamentary election. He finished third in the single-member constituency of Utena,[28] and Paluckas secured a seat in the Seimas through the proportional representation system, drawing on his position in the LSDP's candidate list.[29]

Nomination for Prime Minister of Lithuania

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On 30 October 2024, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, announced at a press conference that she would not be the party's candidate for Prime Minister. Blinkevičiūtė disclosed that the party's presidium had decided to propose Paluckas as the nominee for the office of Prime Minister of Lithuania.[30]

Throughout the campaign, Blinkevičiūtė had indicated her interest in assuming the Prime Minister role if her party succeeded. However, at the press conference, she cited personal considerations, including age and health, as factors influencing her decision to step back from the role. She confirmed her intention to complete her term as a Member of the European Parliament, which extends to 2029.[30]

The Social Democratic Party presidium unanimously decided to nominate Paluckas. According to Blinkevičiūtė, Paluckas was selected because of his extensive experience in both local government and national politics. Additionally, it was noted that Paluckas had received significant public support, with 60,000 Lithuanian residents voting for him.[31] According to official election data, Paluckas received 58,827 first-place votes, placing him second on the party list, following Blinkevičiūtė, who led with 91,526 votes, and ahead of Juozas Olekas, who ranked third with 48,470 votes.[32]

During the same press event, Paluckas announced his intention to proceed with consultations regarding the formation of a centre-left coalition. He confirmed plans to continue discussions with political groups previously dismissed by Blinkevičiūtė, including the nationalist Dawn of Nemunas Party.[33]

President Gitanas Nausėda confirmed that he was informed in advance about Blinkevičiūtė's decision not to submit her candidacy. Nausėda also confirmed that he was aware of the circumstances that could prevent Blinkevičiūtė from holding the position of Prime Minister. Nausėda refused to name these circumstances, stating that it would be unethical.[34]

In addition to his political career, Gintautas Paluckas has been actively involved in various social and community initiatives. He has championed causes related to education, social welfare, and environmental sustainability. Paluckas has also been a vocal advocate for digital innovation and modernization within government services, aiming to improve efficiency and accessibility for all citizens. His efforts in promoting transparency and accountability in public administration have earned him recognition both locally and internationally.[35]

Opposition viewpoints

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On 31 October, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė stated that Paluckas lacks sufficient experience within the executive branch. Šimonytė further commented that Paluckas has limited experience, predominantly gained while working in the Vilnius city municipality administration. She also highlighted that Paluckas has a criminal conviction related to abuse of public office.[36] On 30 October, Speaker of the Seimas Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen expressed that Blinkevičiūtė's nomination decision was unacceptable, as it undermines the trust in commitments made during the electoral campaign.[37]

Coalition viewpoints

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Linas Kukuraitis, representing the Union of Democrats "For Lithuania", commended Paluckas on his professionalism and commitment to political dialogue, as well as his ties with nongovernmental organizations and trade unions in Lithuania. Paluckas was also praised by Remigijus Motuzas, speaking for the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania, stating that "with his persistent work in the Seimas during the last parliamentary term, he has clearly demonstrated that, even in opposition, it is possible to do a lot of things and to implement one's own priorities".[38]

On 21 November, Paluckas was nominated as the Prime Minister by the Seimas, with 88 votes in favor – all members of parliament of the coalition, as well as Artūras Zuokas and Vitalijus Šeršniovas.[38]

Conviction

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On 7 December 2010, the First District Court of the city of Vilnius found Paluckas guilty of abuse of office and sentenced him to two years of imprisonment with a one-year suspension, ordering him not to leave his place of residence for more than seven days without the consent of the institution supervising the suspension of the sentence. The court found that Paluckas had abused office during the public tender for rodent extermination services in Vilnius. Paluckas was ordered to pay over fifty-seven thousand litas damage to Vilnius city municipality.[39]

In 2012 the verdict by the First District Court of the city of Vilnius was upheld by the final and unappealable decision of the Supreme Court of Lithuania First District Court of the city of Vilnius: Paluckas was found guilty of abuse of office in a non-transparent public procurement tender.[40]

Controversies

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In February 2018, the Central Electoral Commission investigated claims that Gintautas Paluckas's brother Danas, then serving on the Palanga City Council, had been convicted of a crime in Italy in 2006 but had failed to declare this fact when running for office.[41][42][43][44] As a result, Danas Paluckas was stripped of his mandate, but denied any wrongdoing. Later in 2018 it was revealed by the State Security Department of Lithuania that the MG Baltic business group had fabricated the Italy story as disinformation in order to smear Gintautas Paluckas by association, allegedly because the company was dissatisfied with his leadership of the LSDP.[43]

In October 2024, an investigation conducted by Linas Jegelevičius for the regional newspaper Palangos tiltas revealed that Palanga City Council member Svetlana Tučkė held the position of Seimas assistant for two different members of the Lithuanian Parliament: Gintautas Paluckas and Tomas Bičiūnas [lt]. From November 2020 to January 2021, Tučkė, a fellow member of the Social Democratic Party, was employed as an assistant to Paluckas with a workload of 125%. From January 2021 Tučkė worked full-time for Paluckas and 25%-time for Bičiūnas; at the same time, she served as a member of the Palanga City Council.[45]

In November 2024, the Baltic News Service (BNS) published investigations into the companies Garnis and Emus, both jointly owned by Paluckas and Mindaugas Milašauskas. BNS revealed that the battery storage company Garnis, in which Paluckas holds a 49% stake, purchases lithium iron phosphate batteries from China.[46] Garnis CEO Andrius Aglinskas stated that the company's products are still in a prototype phase, but did not rule out that the final product could incorporate batteries from China due to the lack of European-made equivalents. The home appliance company Emus, in which Paluckas holds a 51% stake, aims to implement a "zero China policy", but imports some components from China, allegedly accounting for under 1% of its raw material purchases.[47] The reports emerged shortly after Paluckas had announced his intention to normalize China-Lithuania relations, which had been severed by China due to the previous Lithuanian government's support for opening a Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius.[48]

Personal life

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Gintautas Paluckas is married to Ilma Paluckė.[49] They have two children.[5] As of 2023, Paluckas was the second-wealthiest member of the Seimas, with €2.13 million in assets.[50] His family owns a walnut orchard in Turkey as well as a plot of land in Brazil.[9]

Besides his native Lithuanian, Paluckas speaks fluent English, proficient Russian, and basic Spanish and Portuguese.[4] His hobbies include fishing, playing basketball, and raising chickens and ducks.[4][5] Paluckas is a member of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union.[4]

He is an author of several articles and political reviews in the national press.[51]

References

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  1. ^ "Gintautas Paluckas nominated as Prime Minister". POLITICO. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Controversy over coalition with Nemunas Dawn Party". POLITICO. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Thousands protest in Vilnius against coalition". Reuters. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e "2024 parliamentary elections. Candidate biography: Gintautas PALUCKAS" (in Lithuanian). Central Election Commission. 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d "2020 parliamentary elections. Candidate biography: Gintautas PALUCKAS" (in Lithuanian). Central Election Commission. 2020.
  6. ^ "LSDP partijos pirmininku išsirinko Gintautą Palucką". Alkas.lt (in Lithuanian). 22 April 2017.
  7. ^ a b Platūkytė, Domantė (31 October 2024). "Nupiešė Palucko portretą: ir aukštas, ir gražus, bet politiko gyslelės nėra". lrt.lt (in Lithuanian).
  8. ^ a b Skėrytė, Jūratė (18 November 2024). "Prezidentas Seimui teiks G. Palucko kandidatūrą į Vyriausybės vadovus". bns.lt (in Lithuanian).
  9. ^ a b c Lėka, Aušra (6 November 2024). "Koks bus Gintautas Pirmasis" (in Lithuanian). Kauno diena.
  10. ^ "Vilnius Vice-Mayor proposes Arabic-language groups in kindergartens". The Baltic Times. 4 September 2015.
  11. ^ "Paluckas, Sinkevičius qualify for 2nd round of SocDem leader election". The Lithuania Tribune. 10 April 2017.
  12. ^ "Vilnius vice-mayor Paluckas elected as Lithuania's SocDem Party leader". The Lithuania Tribune. 24 April 2017.
  13. ^ Želnienė, Liepa (22 April 2017). "Socialdemokratų pirmininko rinkimus laimėjo Gintautas Paluckas". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian).
  14. ^ "LSDP- Mes keičiamės". LSDP (in Lithuanian). 2017.
  15. ^ Baranovas, Ruslanas (21 December 2018). "Ar LSDP užteks grįžimo prie socialdemokratinių vertybių?". Šiaurės Atėnai (in Lithuanian).
  16. ^ "Socialdemokratai išrinko pirmininką: juo tapo G. Paluckas". lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). 22 April 2017.
  17. ^ Samoškaitė, Eglė (22 April 2017). "Prasidėjo kova be taisyklių LSDP: prašo panaikinti kai kuriuos rezultatus" [The fight without rules at the LSDP: the cancellation of some results is demanded]. lrt.lt (in Lithuanian).
  18. ^ "Breakaway SocDems spread message to Europe about "radical left" in Lithuania". The Baltic Times. 29 November 2017.
  19. ^ Nupiešė Palucko portretą: ir aukštas, ir gražus, bet politiko gyslelės nėra (A portrait of Paluckas: tall and handsome, but without political talent)
  20. ^ "Paluckas re-elected to leadership of Lithuanian Social Democratic Party". lrt.lt. 29 April 2019.
  21. ^ Skėrytė, Jūratė (12 June 2019). "Paluckas kandidatuos į Seimą Žirmūnų apygardoje". lrt.lt (in Lithuanian).
  22. ^ "Lithuanian SocDem leader blames election defeat on low turnout". The Baltic Times. 23 September 2019.
  23. ^ "2020 m. spalio 25 d. Lietuvos Respublikos Seimo rinkimai (II turas) — Utenos (Nr.51) apygarda" (in Lithuanian). Central Election Commission. 2020.
  24. ^ "Two Lithuanian candidates tied after receiving exact same number of votes". lrt.lt. 26 October 2020.
  25. ^ "Išrinkti Lietuvos Respublikos Seimo nariais 2020–2024" (in Lithuanian). Central Election Commission. 2020.
  26. ^ a b Bankauskaitė, Beatričė; Skėrytė, Jūratė (22 January 2021). "Partijos bendražygiai apie G. Palucko atsistatydinimą: buvo padaryta labai daug klaidų" (in Lithuanian). 15min.lt.
  27. ^ "Paluckas atsistatydino iš LSDP pirmininko pareigų" (in Lithuanian). Delfi.lt. 22 January 2021.
  28. ^ "2024 m. spalio 13 d. Lietuvos Respublikos Seimo rinkimai (I turas)". Central Election Commission. 2024.
  29. ^ "Išrinkti Lietuvos Respublikos Seimo nariais 2024–2028" (in Lithuanian). Central Election Commission. 2024.
  30. ^ a b Jochecová, Ketrin (30 October 2024). "Lithuanian election winner rejects PM role". POLITICO.
  31. ^ "LSDP prezidiumas teikia Gintauto Palucko kandidatūrą į LR Ministro pirmininko pareigas". Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (in Lithuanian). 31 October 2024.
  32. ^ "2024 m. spalio 13 d. Lietuvos Respublikos Seimo rinkimai (I turas). Lietuvos socialdemokratų partija Pirmumo balsai" (in Lithuanian). Central Election Commission. 2024.
  33. ^ Stankevičius, Augustas (30 October 2024). "Paluckas: socdemai dėl koalicijos konsultuosis ir su liberalais bei "aušriečiais"" (in Lithuanian). lrt.lt.
  34. ^ Samoškaitė, Eglė (30 October 2024). "Dramos atomazga: Blinkevičiūtė premjere nebus, socdemai teikia Palucką" (in Lithuanian). lrt.lt.
  35. ^ Jegelevicius, Linas (12 May 2022). "MP Gintautas Paluckas: "Lithuania's recent foreign policy decisions were inadequate not because they were too 'tough', but because these decisions were absolutely reactionary"". The Baltic page. p. 1.
  36. ^ Jaruševičiūtė-Mockuvienė, Gailė (31 October 2024). "I. Šimonytė sukritikavo G. Palucko kandidatūrą: teistas". Kauno diena (in Lithuanian).
  37. ^ Perminas, Paulius (30 October 2024). "Liberalų lyderė V. Blinkevičiūtės sprendimą vadina nepriimtinais politiniais viražais". Kauno diena (in Lithuanian).
  38. ^ a b Platukytė, Domanta; Narkūnas, Vilius (21 November 2024). "Oficialu: Paluckas tapo naujuoju Lietuvos premjeru" (in Lithuanian).
  39. ^ "G. Paluckas lieka nubaustas dėl piktnaudžiavimo". Kauno diena (in Lithuanian). 4 April 2012.
  40. ^ Chadasevičius, Saulius (3 April 2012). "Aukščiausiojo Teismo smūgis Gintautui Paluckui – buvęs Vilniaus savivaldybės administracijos direktorius nuteistas "žiurkių byloje"" (in Lithuanian). 15min.lt.
  41. ^ "Atliktas tarnybinis patikrinimas dėl Palangos miesto savivaldybės tarybos nario Dano Palucko teistumo" (in Lithuanian). Central Election Commission. 5 March 2018.
  42. ^ "G. Palucko brolio karjerą Lietuvoje griauna senos nuodėmės Italijoje". Lrytas.lt. 13 February 2018.
  43. ^ a b Tvaskienė, Jurga (9 May 2018). "A spider's web none dared touch for a decade: how MG Baltic aimed to conquer the country". The Lithuania Tribune.
  44. ^ Jegelevičius, Linas (10 May 2018). "Lithuania's intelligence: Liberal party was the Trojan Horse of business giant MG Baltic". Baltic News Network.
  45. ^ Jegelevičius, Linas (8 October 2024). "Palangos miesto Tarybos narė Svetlana Tučkė viena sėdyne beveik du metus tarnavo dviem Seimo nariams, Gintautui Paluckui ir Tomui Bičiūnui" (in Lithuanian). Palangos tiltas.
  46. ^ Gaidamavičius, Giedrius (6 November 2024). "Lithuanian would-be PM's company buys lithium batteries from China". lrt.lt.
  47. ^ Gaidamavičius, Giedrius (5 November 2024). "Lithuanian would-be PM's business says it has no stake in China policy change". lrt.lt.
  48. ^ Jakučionis, Saulius (31 October 2024). "Lithuania's presumptive PM vows to restore ties with China". lrt.lt.
  49. ^ "2024 parliamentary elections. Candidate's declared private interests: Gintautas PALUCKAS" (in Lithuanian). Central Election Commission. 2024.
  50. ^ Biržietis, Dominykas (27 June 2024). "Who are the richest Lithuanian MPs?". lrt.lt.
  51. ^ "Autorius: Gintautas Paluckas" [Author: Gintautas Paluckas]. lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). 24 April 2019.
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