The Aleksandras Stulginskis Star awarded to Friedrich Merz, Federal Chancellor of Germany

Press release, 5 May 2026 (News ● Photos ● Broadcasts and videos)

The Seimas has decided to grant the Aleksandras Stulginskis Star 2026 to Friedrich Merz, Federal Chancellor of Germany. The resolution of the Seimas on the matter was adopted by 78 votes in favour and 1 abstention.

The ceremony of awarding the Aleksandras Stulginskis Star is scheduled for 19 May 2026.

Friedrich Merz is a lawyer and a long-standing member of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany. He was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1989 to 1994 and a member of the Bundestag from 1994 to 2009, and returned to the Bundestag after his re-election in 2021. In 2000–2002, and then in 2022–2025, Merz served as a Chair of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) parliamentary group in the Bundestag. On 6 May 2025, Merz assumed office as Federal Chancellor of Germany.

‘Particular note should be made of Merz’s exceptional contribution to strengthening Lithuania’s statehood through parliamentary democracy and European unity. During his term in office, Lithuanian-German relations have reached an unprecedented strategic level, directly contributing to the protection of Lithuania’s sovereignty and democratic institutions. As a long-standing German parliamentarian and an MEP, Merz has consistently upheld the principles of parliamentary democracy. He emphasises that Europe stands as a normative alternative to imperialism and autocracy, and that a strong partnership with Lithuania is a direct response to Russia’s aggressive revisionism and is intended to safeguard a free and democratic world,’ said Vytautas Jucius, Chair of the Commission for Awarding the Aleksandras Stulginskis Star, when presenting the nominee.

According to the Chair of the Commission, security guarantees and consistent leadership are among Merz’s most significant achievements. ‘He personally initiated and supported the decision to permanently deploy the German Brigade in Lithuania and played a decisive role in bringing about the historic ‘Zeitenwende’, a turning point in German defence policy, directly contributing to the strengthening of Lithuania’s national security. The deployment of the Brigade in Lithuania represents the first deployment of the German Armed Forces abroad since World War II. Merz has articulated the principle that Lithuania’s security is Germany’s security and that the protection of Vilnius is the protection of Berlin, thus defining a new era of defence and solidarity,’ said Mr Jucius.

The Aleksandras Stulginskis Star award of the Seimas is conferred on Lithuanian and foreign natural and legal persons for their achievements and contribution towards fostering the ideas of parliamentarianism, democracy and statehood.

The award ceremony is traditionally held on the 15th of May, the Day of Convening of the Constituent Seimas, or during the subsequent sitting of the Seimas.

On 22 December 2020, the Parliament established the Aleksandras Stulginskis Star as a Seimas award on the occasion of the Centenary of the Constituent Seimas and the Republic of Lithuania. The award is intended to honour the prominent personality of Aleksandras Stulginskis, Speaker of the Constituent Seimas and acting President of the Republic of the time.

Rimas Rudaitis, Adviser, Press Office, Information and Communication Department, Tel. +370 5 209 6132, e-mail: [email protected]