Lithuanian Liberal Youth
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (February 2018) |
| Lithuanian Liberal Youth Lietuvos liberalus jaunimas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairman | Mykolas Knyza |
| Founded | January 12, 1991 [1] |
| Headquarters | Vilnius |
| Membership | 3000+ |
| Ideology | Liberalism |
| International affiliation | IFLRY, LYMEC, ESFL |
| Website | laisve.lt |
Lithuanian Liberal Youth (Lithuanian: Lietuvos liberalus jaunimas, LLJ), is a political youth organization in Lithuania. It is the financially and organisationally independent of any political party. However, some prominent members of LLJ participate in active politics as representatives of political parties, in most cases the Liberal Movement.
History
The organisation was unofficially established as Vilniaus liberalaus jaunimo klubas on 12 January 1991 and was officially registered on 1 December 1991. After being affiliated with Lithuanian Liberal Union until 1994, the organisation later decided to become an independent one. Even after this split many members of LLJ as Jonas Čekuolis, Gintaras Steponavičius and Aušrinė Armonaitė were elected to municipal councils and the Seimas as members of Lithuanian Liberal Union, Liberal and Centre Union and Liberal Movement.
Past Leaders
Liberal leaders and officials who are alumni of LLJ include:
- Current Member of Parliament Aušrinė Armonaitė
- Former Chairman of the Liberal Movement, Mayor of Vilnius Remigijus Šimašius
- Former Minister of Science and Education, current MP Gintaras Steponavičius
- Former Chairman of the Liberal Movement, MP and Minister of Transport and Communications Eligijus Masiulis
Structure
Executive
The day-to-day management of the LLJ is in the hands of the LLJ Board, the members of which are:
- Chairman: Mykolas Knyza
- Coordinator of Branches: Gvidas Kontautas
- Coordinator of Ideological Affairs: Paulius Zanevičius
- Coordinator of International Affairs: Umberto Masi
- Coordinator of Public Relations: Gediminas Ruginis
Branches
Currently the Lithuanian Liberal Youth has 22 local branches, eight of them are registered as separate associacions. Every branch has a local board and organizes regular general meetings, where local board members are elected and policy is decided. Every local member has the right to vote at the local general meetings. The sections are:
- Akmenė branch (ALJO)
- Alytus branch (ALJ)
- Druskininkai branch (DLJ)
- Jonava branch (JLJ)
- Kaišiadorys branch (KRLJ)
- Kalvarija branch (KaLJ)
- Kaunas branch (association, KLJ)
- Kėdainiai branch (KėdLiJO)
- Kelmė branch (KelJO)
- Klaipėda branch (association, KLJO)
- Lentvaris branch (LeLiJO)
- Marijampolė branch (MLJO)
- Mažeikiai branch (association, MLJ)
- Raseiniai branch (RLJ)
- Panevėžys branch (PLJ)
- Plungė branch (association, PLJO)
- Šiauliai branch (association, ŠLJ)
- Tauragė branch (TLJ)
- Telšiai branch (association, TLJO)
- Utena branch (association, ULJ)
- Varėna branch (VLJ)
- Vilnius branch (association, VLJO)