Lithuania’s Iron Lady

May 21, 2009

Lithuania has turned the page on past prejudices and moved to vote in President-elect Dalia Grybauskaite with a stunning landslide vote just shy of 70 percent – something similar to what the country’s eastern neighbor Alexander Lukashenko managed last year, only here the numbers were real.

The country turned out in force and voters made their voice heard in a number of firsts –it is the highest percentage win for any candidate in history and will be the first time a woman will lead Lithuania. It is the first time the president’s post had been decided in the first round since 1993. It is also the first time voters were willing to disregard the matter of Grybauskaite’s disputed sexuality.
Lithuania, and the region as a whole, has always struggled with the idea of public homosexuality. While Grybauskaite denied the claims publicly, many still believed that she was lesbian when they went to the polls.

These three firsts demonstrate that the country is facing special circumstances and that the voters are in the mood for special solutions. The country is dealing with its worst financial turmoil since independence and there is political infighting over the policies of the government, effectively slowing down the government in its attempts to steer the country to the right course.
Grybauskaite has an excellent resume for the job given the current climate – with the country’s economy in freefall. She also has the political experience from working on the embassy scene and in Brussels. Added to all this is her black belt in karate, which shows her willpower to achieve great things.

With this arsenal of experience hanging from her tool belt, she has come out swinging since her election – throwing punches left, right and center. No politician is too senior to be targeted and she has already singled out five ministers who she intends to straighten out through special talks.
The five ministers she has targeted are Finance Minister Algirdas Semeta (who recently survived a vote of no-confidence), Economy Minister Dainius Kreivys, Energy Minister Arvydas Sekmokas, Social Security and Labor Minister Rimantas Dagys and Healthcare Minister Algis Caplikas.
These ministries are among the most important at any time – but especially now when the country is staring down the barrel of real energy dependence on Russia and the prospect of begging for money from international lenders.

Grybauskaite is slamming her fist down with the might of the Lithuanian god of thunder, Perkunas, and rightly so. Current president Valdas Adamkus has been taking it easy approaching the end of his term and the government has had relatively free reign so far.
Of course, the European Commission and other international bodies have approved the government’s financial policies, but the role of the president is to check the government and ensure that they are doing the best thing possible – even if that does mean changes at the top.
The people have asked for steely resolve and they have got it. Grybauskaite will lay down the law and call a spade a spade.

If she stays true to her election promise, the national energy company Leo LT will be dissolved and crucial changes in policy will take place.

It is what the nation needs. The people have spoken.

password reminder