Rolandas Paksas

Rolandas Paksas (Lithuanian: [rɔˈɫɐ̂ˑndɐs ˈpaːksɐs] ^ⓘ; born 10 June 1956) is a Lithuanian politician who served as the sixth President of Lithuania from 2003 until his impeachment in April 2004. He 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. He led Order and Justice from 2004 to 2016 and was a Member of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2019.

A national aerobatics champion in the 1980s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Paksas founded a construction company, Restako. In 1997, he was elected to the Vilnius City Council for the centre-right Homeland Union and became mayor. In May 1999, Paksas was appointed Prime Minister but resigned five months later after a disagreement over privatisation. Paksas joined the Liberal Union of Lithuania (LLS) in 2000. The LLS won the 2000 election, and Paksas became Prime Minister again, but he left within seven months after another dispute over economic reforms.

In 2002, Paksas founded the Liberal Democratic Party, aiming to attract diverse political support through a populist and reformist agenda. He then contested the Lithuanian presidential election, 2002–2003, positioning himself as an anti-establishment candidate. Despite trailing incumbent President Valdas Adamkus in the first round with 19.7% of the vote, Paksas secured a significant upset in the run-off election on January 5, 2003, winning with 54.7% of the vote. This victory was attributed to his ability to appeal to disenchanted voters who sought a break from the political status quo.

Shortly after assuming office, Paksas initiated a series of reforms, including anti-corruption measures targeting public officials involved in illegal land acquisitions. However, his presidency was soon mired in scandal. In October 2003, allegations surfaced that Paksas had unlawfully granted Lithuanian citizenship to Yury Borisov, a Russian businessman and one of his major campaign donors. Investigations revealed that Borisov had provided substantial financial support to Paksas's campaign and was granted citizenship in return, circumventing standard legal procedures.

Further investigations exposed troubling connections between senior members of Paksas's administration and Russian criminal organizations, raising concerns about national security. The controversies culminated in impeachment proceedings in early 2004. On April 6, 2004, the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) voted to remove Paksas from office on three charges: unlawfully granting citizenship, leaking classified information, and interfering in private business matters.

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. The case underscored Lithuania's commitment to political accountability but also triggered years of legal battles over the lifetime ban imposed on him from holding parliamentary office.

Following his impeachment, Paksas was banned from running for the Seimas (Lithuanian parliament). This lifetime ban was ruled a disproportionate measure by the European Court of Human Rights in 2011. In April 2022, the Lithuanian Parliament amended the Constitution to allow impeached individuals to run for parliamentary office after ten years, thereby reinstating Paksas's eligibility to stand as a candidate.

While serving as a Member of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2019, Paksas focused on various issues, but after leaving office, he largely stepped away from active political roles. His presidency remains a subject of controversy, with ongoing debates about his legacy in Lithuanian politics. Some analysts still regard his impeachment as a turning point for Lithuania's political accountability.