| Rolandas Paksas | |
| In office February 26, 2003 – April 6, 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Valdas Adamkus |
| Succeeded by | Artūras Paulauskas |
| Born | June 10, 1956 Telšiai, Lithuania (then USSR) |
| Political party | Order and Justice, Lithuanian Liberal Democrats |
Rolandas Paksas (pronunciation ) (born 10 June 1956 in Telšiai, Samogitia, Lithuania, then USSR) is a well known politician in Lithuania and currently heads the Liberal Democrats Party in Lithuania. The following is a list of rulers over Lithuania — grand dukes kings and presidents — the heads of authority over historical Lithuanian territory Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Valdas Adamkus, born Voldemaras Adamkavičius on November 3 1926 is the current President of the Republic of Lithuania. Artūras Paulauskas (born August 23, 1953) is a Lithuanian politician Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Telšiai ( Samogitian: Telšē) is a City in Lithuania with about 35000 inhabitants Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Order and Justice (Tvarka ir teisingumas formerly the Liberal Democratic Party ( Liberalų Demokratų Partija) is a Right-of-centre political party in Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Telšiai ( Samogitian: Telšē) is a City in Lithuania with about 35000 inhabitants Samogitia ( Samogitian: Žemaitėjė, Žemaitija literally lowlands) is one of the five Ethnographic Regions of Lithuania. Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Order and Justice (Tvarka ir teisingumas formerly the Liberal Democratic Party ( Liberalų Demokratų Partija) is a Right-of-centre political party in He was the President of the Republic of Lithuania from February 26, 2003 to April 6, 2004 when he was successfully impeached. The following is a list of rulers over Lithuania — grand dukes kings and presidents — the heads of authority over historical Lithuanian territory Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " He is the first European head of state to have been impeached.
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Early life, education and non-political career
Rolandas Paksas was the only child of Feliksas and Elena Paksas.
In 1974, he graduated Žemaitės Secondary School in Telšiai.
In 1979, he graduated Vilnius Civil Engineering Institute (now Vilnius Gediminas Technical University) with a degree in Industrial and Civil Engineering. Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Vilniaus Gedimino Technikos Universitetas acronym- VGTU) is one of the two technical universities in Lithuania.
From 1979 to 1985 he worked as a pilot instructor.
From 1985 to 1992 he worked as Director of the Darius and Girėnas Flying Club in Vilnius. Steponas Darius (known as Stephen Darius in the USA born Steponas Darašius; January 8, 1896 in, now Klaipėda district of Stasys Girėnas (known as Stanley T Girenas in the USA born Stasys Girskis October 4, 1893 in, Lithuania &ndash July 17
In 1984, he graduated Leningrad Civil Aviation Academy as an engineer pilot. Saint Petersburg ( tr: Sankt-Peterburg,) is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River
During this period, he competed in aerobatics competitions. Aerobatics is the demonstration of flying maneuvers for Training, Recreation or Entertainment. He won the national aerobatics championship in Lithuania several times, the national championship of the Soviet Union twice and was the winner of international aerobatics competitions. Aerobatics is the demonstration of flying maneuvers for Training, Recreation or Entertainment. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991
From 1992 to 1997 Rolandas Paksas was the President of the construction company "Restako".
Political career
On April 11, 1997, Rolandas Paksas was elected to Vilnius City Council and became the Mayor of the Vilnius city municipality. Events 491 - Flavius Anastasius becomes Byzantine Emperor, with the name of Anastasius I. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar The Vilnius city municipality (Vilniaus miesto savivaldybė is one of 60 municipalities in Lithuania. He helped reconstruct the Vilnius Old Town that was neglected by the Lithuanian SSR and is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Old Town of Vilnius (Vilniaus senamiestis one of the largest surviving Medieval old towns in Northern Europe, has an area of 3 The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (Lietuvos Tarybų Socialistinė Respublika Литовская Советская Социалистическая Республика United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex Paksas also served as chairman of Vilnius branch of the Homeland Union (Lithuanian Conservatives). The Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (Conservatives Political Prisoners and the Exiled Nationalists, before 2008 Homeland Union (Conservatives Political Prisoners
As early as August 1998, Paksas was mentioned in Verslo Žinios ("Business News") as a possible candidate to replace Prime Minister of Lithuania Gediminas Vagnorius if he got a vote of no confidence in the Seimas. 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. Gediminas Vagnorius (born June 10, 1957) is a Lithuanian Politician and signatory of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania A motion of no confidence (also vote of no confidence, censure motion, no-confidence motion, or confidence motion) is a Parliamentary motion The Seimas is the Lithuanian Parliament. It has 141 members that are elected for a four-year term In 1998, in a survey published by Lietuvos Rytas, Paksas was voted one of the most influential 5 people of the year. Lietuvos rytas (lit Lithuanian Morning) is a Lithuanian daily Newspaper, printed in Vilnius.
In May 1999, Vagnorius stepped down and President Valdas Adamkus asked Paksas to become the Prime Minister. Valdas Adamkus, born Voldemaras Adamkavičius on November 3 1926 is the current President of the Republic of Lithuania. The Conservatives had 68 of the Seimas' 138 seats and were part of an 81-member coalition with the Lithuanian Christian Democrats. He did not accept the post immediately as he joked that his bodyguards would not fit into his stunt plane.
In June 1999, he became Prime Minister, heading the ninth Government after independence. Five months later, he resigned because of a disagreement over the sale of Mazeikiu Nafta, the Lithuanian oil processing company to American oil company Williams Companies. Mažeikių Nafta is a company centered around the Mažeikiai Oil refinery and oil-processing plant in Lithuania. The Williams Companies Inc ( is an energy company based in Tulsa Oklahoma. After his resignation, he became an Adviser to the President of Lithuania and Plenipotentiary of the President for Special Assignments.
In April 2000, he became the Mayor of the Vilnius city municipality again.
In 2000, he was elected as the Prime Minister in the eleventh Cabinet and served from November 2000 to June 2001.
In March 2002, Paksas was elected as a chairman of his newly founded Liberal Democratic Party. Order and Justice (Tvarka ir teisingumas formerly the Liberal Democratic Party ( Liberalų Demokratų Partija) is a Right-of-centre political party in On January 5, 2003, he was elected President of Lithuania, after a surprise win over the incumbent Valdas Adamkus in a runoff. Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Valdas Adamkus, born Voldemaras Adamkavičius on November 3 1926 is the current President of the Republic of Lithuania. In the first round of elections, Paksas was the second, with 19. 7% of vote but, in the runoff, he gathered 54. 9%.
On February 26, 2003, his term as a President began. Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. During his term, Rolandas Paksas had been accused by his opponents of having ties with the Russian mafia although this was never proven. Russian Mafia ( Русская мафия, Russkaya Mafiya) Red Mob ( Красная мафия Krasnaya Mafiya) or He had allegedly tried to extort some private companies, like the road construction company Žemaitijos keliai, by putting pressure on their owners. Yuri Borisov, a prominent businessman and President of an aviation company, Avia Baltika, who had previously helped sponsor and support Paksas' political movement was given Lithuanian citizenship which led to an outcry by the natioanalists as Borisov was an ethnic Russian. Paksas' connections were later revealed by the Department of Security, which was run by Mečys Laurinkus. In early 2004, the Seimas started impeachment proceedings against him. Impeachment is the first of two stages in a specific process for a legislative body to forcibly remove a Government official
Lithuania became a full member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (on March 29, 2004) during Paksas' tenure in office. The North Atlantic Treaty Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King
On March 31, 2004, the Constitutional Court of Lithuania found him guilty. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania (in Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucinis Teismas is a special court established by the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania After the Constitutional Court's ruling, the Seimas effectively removed him from the presidency through a secret ballot on April 6, 2004. The Seimas is the Lithuanian Parliament. It has 141 members that are elected for a four-year term Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "
Paksas attempted to run for the presidency again in the newly-called elections of June 13, 2004. Events 1525 - Martin Luther marries Katharina von Bora, against the Celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " His attempts were effectively ended on May 4, 2004, when - as per the Constitutional Court's ruling - an amendment to Lithuania's Election Law was made banning an impeached President from running again for any public office requiring an oath. Events 1256 - The Augustinian monastic order is constituted at the Lecceto Monastery when Pope Alexander IV "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " This prevents Paksas from running for either President or Legislative office.
Apparently, Paksas has not renounced his political ambitions. In a rare interview with a Lithuanian daily, Kauno diena, on October 27, 2005, Paksas claimed that he is going to become the President of Lithuania once again. Kauno diena (Kaunas Daily is a Lithuanian daily Newspaper, printed in Kaunas. Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The journalist, considering the new election law, asked Paksas just how he was going to become a President. Paksas, however, declined to elaborate and commented that he would be a "bad politician" if he went into details.
He also did not disclose if he has ambitions to become a mayor of Vilnius once again (mayors in Lithuania do not take oaths, exempting them from the ban).
Paksas, as Chairman of the Liberal Democrats of Lithuania, caused controversy when he announced on January 12, 2006 that he is admitting Audrius Butkevicius to the party. Events 475 - Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Butkevicius was once Defense Minister and MP who was convicted and served time in jail for taking bribes back in 1998. A defence minister (or defense minister) is a Cabinet position which regulates the Armed forces in some sovereign nations
Legal trouble following impeachment
Paksas was convicted in 2005 by a District Court of Vilnius for disclosing classified information (state secrets) during his time in office as a president of the Republic (after the impeachment was over, and he was removed from office, the prosecution charged him with revealing a state secret to his financial sponsor, the Russian businessman Jurij Borisov).
The prosecution alleged that on March 17, 2003 Paksas hinted to Borisov, in one of their private conversations, that the latter's phones are tapped and the authorities are screening his phone calls - the information Paksas earlier received and was briefed on by the head of Lithuania's National Security Department). He was found guilty by the District Court; however, since he was already removed from the office, the Court deemed it unnecessary to impose on him a punishment. It was concluded that albeit guilty, Paksas no longer presents a danger to the State.
However, Paksas appealed to the Supreme Court of Lithuania, arguing that there was no direct evidence to suggest that he leaked a state secret during the time when he served as the President of the Republic. He hired top lawyers of Lithuania, specializing in criminal law, to defend him in front of the Supreme Court panel consisting of seven judges.
The Supreme Court, on December 13, 2005, acquitted Paksas and overturned the verdict of the District Court and the ruling is not appealable. Events 1294 - Saint Celestine V abdicates the papacy after only five months Celestine hoped to return to his previous life
Paksas praised the Supreme Court's ruling and announced his plans to fight till the end, his next plan being to attack the Constitutional Court's decision of 2004, which found him guilty of violating the Constitution of the Republic on three counts, and breaking his oath. Paksas assured that he intends to petition the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, as he claimed that the 2004 ruling of the Constitutional Court, and the subsequent decision of the Seimas to remove him from office were unconstitutional. The European Court of Human Rights ( ECtHR) (Cour européenne des droits de l’homme in Strasbourg was established under the European Convention on Human Rights Strasbourg (Strasbourg stʁazbuʁ Alsatian: Strossburi,; Straßburg) is the capital and principal City of the Alsace région The Seimas is the Lithuanian Parliament. It has 141 members that are elected for a four-year term
Paksas and his party are currently looking for ways to annul the Constitutional Court's ruling since it prevents him from holding major public office again.
Personal life
Rolandas Paksas is married. His wife Laima is an economist and they have two children: daughter Inga (she is married) and son Mindaugas. \[1].
References
See also
- Andrius Vilkancas, FOCUS-Lithuania mayor nominated prime minister, Reuters News, 10 May 1999
External links
- Liberal Democrats Party of Lithuania. This article is primarily about Reuters prior to its 2008 merger with Thomson
- Biographical facts from the NATO website. The North Atlantic Treaty
| Preceded by Valdas Adamkus | President of Lithuania 2003 – 2004 | Succeeded by Artūras Paulauskas |
| Preceded by Irena Degutienė (acting) | Prime Minister of Lithuania May 18, 1999–October 27, 1999 | Succeeded by Irena Degutienė (acting) |
| Preceded by Andrius Kubilius | Prime Minister of Lithuania October 26, 2000–June 20, 2001 | Succeeded by Eugenijus Gentvilas (acting) |
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