Congratulations by Mr Kirkilas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas: 100 years since women in Lithuania won the right to vote

Press release, 2 November 2018

Dear Lithuanian women,

Exactly one hundred years ago, prominent female activists, including Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė, Ona Mašiotienė and Felicija Bortkevičienė, fought for the equal rights of women, including the right to go to the polls and cast their vote. The Great Seimas of Vilnius began promoting women’s rights in 1905. However, it was not until 2 November 1918 that the Constitution of Lithuania was adopted by the State Council of Lithuania thus securing women’s right to vote.

I sincerely welcome the fact that over 100 years the women have become not only voters in politics, but also very active politicians, who raise the profile of our country in Europe and around the world and who make informed decisions. Congratulations on the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage!

Gediminas Kirkilas

Deputy Speaker of the Seimas

Chairman of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Labour Party