Lietuvos merų politinės karjeros bruožai
The Paths of Political Career of Lithuanian Mayors

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the research was to show the features of Lithuanian mayors political career and find out whether the introduction of direct election system influenced the composition of Lithuanian mayors with respect to their political careers. The profiles of mayors elected in 2011 and 2015 were analyzed. The analysis was based on empirical data – the mayors’ resumes from official website of Central Electoral Committee of Lithuania and survey of Mayors. The research has shown that after the introduction of direct election of mayors, more new personalities and more nonpartisan candidates were elected. In comparison to the newly elected mayors in 2011, to the ones elected in 2015, it can be seen that the number of elected candidates with no prior political experience has doubled. On the other hand, a large number of newly elected mayors have had political experience as council members, other mayors have had various positions not only as council members, but also as vice mayors or other municipal positions. A small number of mayors has had experience of working in Parliament. A general trend was observed: mayors reach their position through political parties and mostly from the public sector. The introduction of direct elections has had a minor influence with respect to political experience of council work in case of the general number mayors. On the other hand, the influence is higher with respect to the newly elected mayors. The article also points out that the experience of Lithuanian mayors in pre-mayoral career is similar to the European average. On average, they have been council members for 5,5 years before the first term as a mayor. Another aspect of political career under investigation was seniority. On average, in Lithuania, the same person holds mayor’s position for 5 years, which is also rather similar to averages of other European mayors.

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