Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union
Political party in Lithuania
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The Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union (Lithuanian: Lietuvos valstiečių liaudininkų sąjunga, LVLS) was a centre-left political party in Lithuania between 1922 and 1936. The party's leaders included the third President Kazys Grinius and three-term Prime Minister Mykolas Sleževičius.
Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union Lietuvos valstiečių liaudininkų sąjunga | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | LVLS |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Banned | 1936 |
| Merger of | Lithuanian Popular Socialist Democratic Party Peasant Union |
| Ideology | Agrarianism |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| International affiliation | Radical International |
History
The party was established in November 1922 by a merger of the Lithuanian Popular Socialist Democratic Party and the Peasant Union. At the time the two parties held a combined 19 seats, making it the largest in the Seimas. The new party emerged as the largest faction in the 1923 elections, winning 16 of the 78 seats.[1] The 1926 elections saw the party increase its seat tally to 22, remaining the largest party in the Seimas.[1] From the 1920s, party internationally participated in the International Entente of Radical and Similar Democratic Parties.[2]
The LVLS formed a coalition government with the Social Democratic Party, but it was overthrown by a military coup in December 1926 which installed the Lithuanian Nationalist Union as the ruling party. The LVLS was banned in 1936.
Election results
Seimas
| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | Lithuanian Popular Socialist Democratic Party and Peasant Union | |||||
| 1922 | ||||||
| 1923 | Kazys Grinius | 161,195 | 17.88 (#1) | 16 / 78 |
New | Opposition |
| 1926 | 225,797 | 22.20 (#1) | 22 / 85 |
 6 |
Coalition | |
| 1936 | Banned | |||||