Labour Party (Lithuania)

Labour Party Darbo Partija
Leader	Viktor Uspaskich
Founded	2003
Headquarters	Ankštoji g. 3, Vilnius
Ideology	Centrism, Populism
Political position	Centrism
International affiliation	Alliance of Democrats
European affiliation	European Democratic Party
European Parliament Group	Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
Official colours	Blue, White
Seats in the Seimas	10 / 141
Seats in the European Parliament	1 / 12
Website
http://www.darbopartija.lt/
Politics of Lithuania Political parties Elections

The Labour Party (Lithuanian: Darbo Partija), or DP, is a centrist political party in Lithuania. It was founded in 2003 by the Russian-born millionaire Viktor Uspaskich.

In its first electoral test, the 2004 European Parliamentary Elections, it was by far the most successful party gaining 30.2% of the vote and returning 5 MEPs. It joined the European Democratic Party and thus the group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. At the 2004 legislative elections, the party won 28.4% of the popular vote and 39 out of 141 seats, making it the largest single party in the Parliament of Lithuania. After the election Labour formed a coalition government with the Social Democrats and New Union.

At the legislative elections of 2008 the party that had entered into a coalition with the Youth party lost heavily, retaining only 10 seats in the Seimas from its previous 39 and obtaining 9% of the national vote. As its other coalition partner, New Union (Social Liberals) also lost heavily, the coalition they were forming with the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania collapsed. The party was left in opposition after a new centre-right coalition, led by Andrius Kubilius who became prime minister for a second time, and formed of Homeland Union, National Resurrection Party and Liberals' Movement of the Republic of Lithuania took over, gaining a combined governmental majority of 72 out of 141 seats.

In 2011, the New Union (Social Liberals) merged with the party.

External links

• Official website