The Sąjūdis philosopher who launched the 2-million-signature campaign demanding Red Army withdrawal
After a long while of hesitation, I made up my mind to see 'what makes socialism.' After a few years it was absolutely clear.
Lithuanian philosopher and politician who taught philosophy at Vilnius University and edited the cultural journal Kultūros barai. He joined the Lithuanian Communist Party in 1973 but broke with it during perestroika; as a founding member of Sąjūdis (1988), he became the movement's theorist and launched a 2-million-signature campaign demanding the withdrawal of the Red Army from Lithuania. He was a central figure in the trilateral planning of the Baltic Way with the Estonian and Latvian popular fronts, and served as deputy prime minister (1990–1991) in the Landsbergis-Prunskienė cabinet. After independence he founded the Lithuanian Centre Union, served in the Seimas (1992–2000), and opposed EU membership as a surrender of sovereignty.
Career Timeline
- 1957–1962Studied philosophy, Vilnius University
- 1965–1968Editor, Kultūros barai journal
- 1973–1989Lecturer in philosophy, Vilnius University
- 1988–1990Founding member and council member, Sąjūdis
- 1989–1990People's Deputy, USSR Congress of People's Deputies
- 1990–1991Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania
- 1992–2000Member of the Seimas
- 1993–2000Chairman, Lithuanian Centre Union