Seimas
The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas), or simply the Seimas (Lithuanian: [sæ̠iˑmɐs]), is the unicameral legislative body of the Republic of Lithuania. The Seimas constitutes the legislative branch of government in Lithuania, enacting laws and amendments to the Constitution, passing the budget, confirming the Prime Minister and the Government and controlling their activities.
Seimas | |
|---|---|
| 13th Seimas | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 22 August 1922 |
| Disbanded | 1940–1991 |
| Leadership | |
Speaker | |
First Deputy Speaker | |
Deputy Speakers | |
Leader of the Opposition | Vacant |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 141 |
Political groups | Government (73)
Opposition (67)
|
| Elections | |
| Parallel voting; 70 party-list seats with a 5% threshold (7% for alliances) and 71 runoff seats | |
Last election | 11 and 25 October 2020 |
Next election | 2024 |
| Meeting place | |
| Seimas Palace, Vilnius | |
| Website | |
| www | |
Its 141 members are elected for a four-year term, with 71 elected in individual constituencies, and 70 elected in a nationwide vote based on open list proportional representation. A party must receive at least 5%, and a multi-party union at least 7%, of the national vote to qualify for the proportional representation seats.
Following the elections in 2020, the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats is the largest party in the Seimas, forming a ruling coalition with the Liberal Movement and the Freedom Party.
The Seimas traces its origins to the Seimas of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, as well as the Seimas of inter-war Lithuania. The first Seimas after the restoration of independence of Lithuania convened in 1992.