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Seimas in the Republic of Lithuania of 1920–1940

Second Seimas (1923–1926)

 

Sitting of the Second Seimas, Kaunas 26 October 1923
Krivulė, 1923, No 5, p 12

 

The elections to the Second Seimas were held on 12–13 May 1923.

The first sitting convened in the building of the Seimas in Kaunas on 5 June 1923.

The Second Seimas had 78 members.

Antanas Tumėnas, Justinas Staugaitis, Leonas Bistras, Vytautas Petrulis, and Jonas Staugaitis served as Speakers of the Second Seimas.

The Second Seimas was unique by the fact that it worked its full legislative term as provided for by the Constitution. The power and authority of the Seimas increased. The leadership of political parties gained an increasing influence and began to control their representatives in the government. Since none of the political parties had a majority, only a coalition could ensure the work. As a result, Christian Democrats and the Popular Peasants entered into negotiations on forming a coalition.  

 


 

ELECTIONS TO THE SECOND SEIMAS

As the First Seimas was dissolved, the date of the next elections was announced. The elections to the Second Seimas were held on 12–13 May 1923. The same as before, during the elections to the Second Seimas, martial law continued to apply in eight counties in Lithuania as in a near-front zone. In this area, an active election campaign was prohibited, whereas the remaining territory of Lithuania witnessed fierce election fight. 

 

COMPOSITION OF THE SECOND SEIMAS

The first sitting convened in Kaunas on 5 June 1923. Seventy-eight members were elected to the Seimas. The Christian Democratic block got 40 seats, with 14 seats won by the Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party, 14 seats secured by the Lithuanian Farmer’s Union, and 14 seats taken by the Lithuanian Labour Federation. The remaining seats were distributed as follows: 16 seats for National Peasants, 8 seats for Social Democrats, 7 seats for Jewish representatives, 4 seats for Poles, 2 seats for  Germans, and 1 seat for Russians. Approximately, one third of members were elected to the parliament for the first time. Throughout the legislative term of the Second Seimas, 17 members were replaced. Therefore, a total of 95 people worked in the Seimas one time or another. The Second Seimas also had three female members.     

 

PRESIDIUM, POLITICAL GROUPS, AND COMMISSIONS OF THE SECOND SEIMAS

The Presidium of the Seimas was re-elected several times, including at the beginning of every session, after the change of a ruling majority or after the adoption of a new Statute. Antanas Tumėnas, Justinas Staugaitis, Leonas Bistras, Vytautas Petrulis, and Jonas Staugaitis, served as Speakers of the Seimas. Although provided for by the Statute, the Conference of Chairs was not elected. Instead of joining the Conference, representatives of political groups attended the meetings of the Presidium of the Seimas. Members of the Second Seimas had several political groups. Commissions were very important in the organisation of activities of the Seimas. The Mandate Commission and the Commission for Commissions were the first to be elected. Initially, 14 standing commissions were formed. They were reorganised as a new Statute was adopted in 1924.   

 

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE SECOND SEIMAS

Although the leadership of political parties gained an increasing power and began to control their representatives in the government, the period was marked by stabilisation of the domestic policy. However, growing disputes between Christian and left parties unfolded in the Seimas. They predominantly disagreed on education and land reform. The sittings of the Seimas saw fierce disputes; it was difficult to get a necessary number of votes to deliberate on legislation. This legislative period of the Seimas was characteristic of a frequent change of governments. In terms of the domestic policy, the legislative period of the Second Seimas was marked by stability, while foreign policy had some setbacks. The Klaipėda Convention was signed successfully thus preventing Poland from making any serious claims to Lithuania’s sole port. Nevertheless, the regulation of relations with the Vatican failed.    



References:
Blažytė-Baužienė D., II Seimas (1923–1926) Seimo rinkimai, Lietuvos Seimo istorija. XX–XXI a. pradžia, Vilnius: Baltos lankos, 2009.

 

Prepared by Vilma Akmenytė-Ruzgienė