Lithuanian politician
Andrius Kubilius
(born 8 December 1956) is a
Lithuanian
politician who has been serving as a
Member of the European Parliament
(MEP) since 2019. He served as
Prime Minister of Lithuania
from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2008 to 2012.
[1]
He was the leader of the conservative political party
Homeland Union
.
Early life and education
[
edit
]
Kubilius was born in
Vilnius
. After graduation from the 22nd secondary school in Vilnius, Kubilius was accepted to
Vilnius University
and studied in the Faculty of Physics until 1979. He continued his academic career and postgraduate studies at Vilnius University from 1981 to 1984.
[2]
Political career
[
edit
]
Career in national politics
[
edit
]
Kubilius became a member of the pro-independence
S?j?dis
movement, who favoured separation from the Soviet Union. He later became the Executive Secretary of the S?j?dis Council. Soon after the re-establishment of
Lithuania's independence
, Kubilius was elected to the
Seimas
(parliament). Since then Kubilius has been an active figure in Lithuanian politics. He became a member of the Homeland Union ? Lithuanian Christian Democrats in 1993.
[1]
Between 1996 and 1999 Kubilius served as Deputy Speaker of Seimas. After
Rolandas Paksas
resignation as the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Andrius Kubilius became new Prime Minister. He served up until
2000 parliamentary election
.
Kubilius led the Homeland Union ? Lithuanian Christian Democrats Party into elections on 28 October 2008. Conservatives defeated the Social Democrats, making Kubilius the main candidate for Prime Minister. On 27 November 2008 Kubilius was officially appointed as Prime Minister of Lithuania. He received 89 votes in favour, 27 against, and 16 members of the Seimas abstained. In 2012 Kubilius became the first prime minister of Lithuania to serve his entire term.
[3]
His government made a lot of unpopular austerity decisions to counter recession.
[4]
Despite the unpopularity of austerity, Lithuania made one of strongest economic recoveries in Europe.
[5]
Kubilius is considered by some being the best Prime Minister of Lithuania modern history.
[6]
Member of the European Parliament, 2019?present
[
edit
]
Kubilius has been a
Member of the European Parliament
since the
2019 elections
. He joined
European People's Party Group
. In parliament, he has since been serving on the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
and the
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
.
[7]
In this capacity, he is the parliament's
rapporteur
on
relations with Russia
.
[8]
Kubilius said it is "impossible" to have good relations with Russia and called for the EU to phase out its
imports of oil and natural gas from Russia
.
[9]
He praised
Turkey
for "proving thrice [in Syria, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh] that the Kremlin fears the fist."
[10]
In addition to his committee assignments, Kubilius is part of the parliament's delegations to the
Euronest Parliamentary Assembly
and to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee.
[7]
He is also a member of the
Spinelli Group
.
[11]
In November 2021, Kubilius joined a group of seven Members of the European Parliament led by
Raphael Glucksmann
to
Taiwan
to send a strong signal in support of the self-ruling island, despite a threat of retaliation from China.
[12]
Personal life
[
edit
]
Kubilius is married to Rasa Kubilien?, a violinist in the
Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra
; the couple have two sons: Andrius Kubilius and Vytautas Kubilius, and three grandchildren.
[13]
Kubilius speaks
Lithuanian
, Russian and English.
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
LR Vyriausioji rinkim? komisija.
Lietuvos Respublikos Seimo rinkimai
Archived
15 October 2008 at the
Wayback Machine
. Retrieved on 24 November 2008
- ^
Gary Peach (September 8, 2010),
History buff
European Voice
.
- ^
Lietuvos rytas
A.Kubilius ? premjerus - u?tikrinta persvara
Retrieved on 13 October 2016
- ^
Thomas, Landon Jr. (2 April 2010).
"From Lithuania, a View of Austerity's Costs"
.
The New York Times
.
- ^
"[Opinion] Lithuania's remarkable recovery"
.
- ^
"K. Girnius. Kubiliaus ir sveiko proto pergal?"
.
Tspmi
.
- ^
a
b
Andrius Kubilius
European Parliament
.
- ^
Hans von der Burchard (February 8, 2021),
Von der Leyen backs Borrell amid calls for resignation over ‘humiliating’ Russia trip
Politico Europe
.
- ^
"EU Parliament touts Russia oil, gas import phase-out"
.
Argus Media
. 16 September 2021.
- ^
"A. Kubilius. The Karabakh Knot: who is stronger ? Turkey or Russia?"
.
15min
. 13 November 2020.
- ^
Board & Members
Spinelli Group
.
- ^
Sarah Anne Aarup and Stuart Lau (November 2, 2021),
MEPs set to land in Taiwan on Tuesday, defying Beijing
Politico Europe
.
- ^
Gary Peach (September 8, 2010),
History buff
European Voice
.
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