28 Facts About Rolandas Paksas

Rolandas Paksas previously served two terms as the Prime Minister of Lithuania in 1999 and again from 2000 to 2001, and as Mayor of Vilnius from 1997 to 1999 and again from 2000 to 2001.

Rolandas Paksas led Order and Justice from 2004 to 2016 and was a Member of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2019.

In May 1999, Rolandas Paksas was appointed Prime Minister but resigned five months later after a disagreement over privatisation.

Rolandas Paksas joined the Liberal Union of Lithuania in 2000.

The LLS won the 2000 election, and Rolandas Paksas became Prime Minister again, but he left within seven months after another dispute over economic reforms.

In 2002, Rolandas Paksas founded the Liberal Democratic Party, aiming to attract diverse political support through a populist and reformist agenda.

Shortly after assuming office, Rolandas Paksas initiated a series of reforms, including anti-corruption measures targeting public officials involved in illegal land acquisitions.

In October 2003, allegations surfaced that Rolandas Paksas had unlawfully granted Lithuanian citizenship to Yury Borisov, a Russian businessman and one of his major campaign donors.

Rolandas Paksas's impeachment marked a significant moment in European political history, as he became the first head of state in Europe to be removed from office through impeachment.

Rolandas Paksas's presidency remains a subject of controversy, with ongoing debates about his legacy in Lithuanian politics.

From 1992 to 1997, Rolandas Paksas was the President of the construction company "Restako".

Rolandas Paksas began his political journey in the early 1990s as a member of the Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania, which was considered left-leaning.

In 1995, Rolandas Paksas made a significant shift in his political alignment, joining the conservative Homeland Union, which was a major move toward the right wing of the Lithuanian political spectrum.

In May 1999, following the resignation of Prime Minister Gediminas Vagnorius, President Valdas Adamkus nominated Rolandas Paksas to replace him.

Rolandas Paksas formally assumed the position of Prime Minister in June 1999, heading the ninth post-independence government of Lithuania.

In October 1999, Rolandas Paksas resigned from the position due to a dispute over the privatization of Mazeikiu Nafta, Lithuania's largest oil refinery, which was sold to a US-based oil company.

Rolandas Paksas held the position from November 2000 to June 2001.

In March 2002, Rolandas Paksas took a bold step by founding the Liberal Democratic Party, marking a significant shift in his political career as he positioned himself as a populist and reformist figure in Lithuanian politics.

On 5 January 2003, Rolandas Paksas was elected as President of Lithuania after a surprise victory over the incumbent Valdas Adamkus in a runoff election.

Additionally, Rolandas Paksas controversially proposed introducing the death penalty for drug traffickers, which resonated with some segments of the electorate.

In return, Rolandas Paksas granted Borisov Lithuanian citizenship through a presidential decree, which the Constitutional Court of Lithuania later ruled unconstitutional.

Concerns about Rolandas Paksas's associations led to an investigation by the State Security Department of Lithuania, which uncovered further allegations of leaked classified information to Borisov and interference in privatization processes.

In 2011, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the lifetime prohibition preventing Rolandas Paksas from running for the Seimas was disproportionate and violated the European Convention on Human Rights.

In September 2018, Rolandas Paksas suspended his membership in the Order and Justice party, citing dissatisfaction with party decisions and internal conflicts.

Rolandas Paksas has since expressed interest in forming a new political movement but remains barred from running for president or serving as the Speaker of the Seimas.

Rolandas Paksas is married to Laima Paksiene and has two children; Inga and Mindaugas.

Rolandas Paksas is a former member of both Soviet and Lithuanian national aerobatic teams, and a skilled stunt pilot who currently performs around the world.

In 2006, Rolandas Paksas made a 47-day flight around the world, a trip which started and ended at Kyviskes airfield.