Centre-Right Union
The Centre-Right Union (Lithuanian: Centro dešinės sąjunga, CDS) is a minor centre-right political party in Lithuania, led by Artūras Zuokas and holding a single seat in the Seimas.[1]The party emerged from the official renaming of the Freedom and Justice party on 29 July 2025, a move Zuokas characterized as a substantive declaration of values aligning with centre-right principles rather than mere rebranding, following consideration of over 40 name options by the party's council.[1] Its sole parliamentary representation stems from Zuokas's victory in a single-member constituency during the 2024 Seimas elections, while the party secured just 0.75% of votes in the multi-member constituency, falling short of the 5% threshold required for proportional representation seats.[1] Zuokas, a long-time figure in Lithuanian politics and former Mayor of Vilnius, has founded or led multiple parties over two decades, including earlier liberal-oriented groups, reflecting a pattern of ideological evolution toward centre-right positioning amid limited electoral success for his ventures.[1] The party's defining characteristics include its small scale and niche focus, with no major policy achievements or coalition roles to date, though the recent name change signals an intent to emphasize conservative-liberal values in a fragmented political landscape dominated by larger centre-right and centre-left blocs.[1]
History
Formation and early years
The Centre-Right Union (CDS), known in Lithuanian as Centro dešinės sąjunga, was formally established on July 29, 2025, when the Freedom and Justice party underwent an official name change approved by Lithuanian authorities.[1] This rebranding reflected a shift toward emphasizing centre-right positioning under the continued leadership of Artūras Zuokas, a former Vilnius mayor and veteran politician with a history in liberal and centrist movements.[2] The entity's origins trace to June 6, 2020, when the Freedom and Justice party (Laisvės ir teisingumo partija) was founded through the unification of Zuokas's Lithuanian Freedom Union (Liberals), elements from the dissolved Order and Justice party, and political figures including Remigijus Žemaitaitis and former President Artūras Paulauskas.[3] [4] Žemaitaitis, a sitting MP at the time, was elected as the inaugural chairman, with the party claiming around 5,000 members drawn primarily from Zuokas's prior organization, which had roots in earlier liberal splinter groups dating to the mid-2010s.[5] The formation aimed to consolidate fragmented liberal and populist forces amid dissatisfaction with established parties, positioning itself as a vehicle for direct democracy and anti-corruption reforms.[6] In its initial phase through 2021, the party focused on organizational consolidation and electoral preparation, fielding a candidate list for the October 2020 Seimas elections that included former ministers and aimed for multiple seats but ultimately secured none due to failing the 5% national threshold.[7] Local-level activities emphasized urban issues in Vilnius, leveraging Zuokas's mayoral experience, though internal tensions emerged, including Žemaitaitis's ousting in 2023 over controversial statements, leading to Zuokas's election as chairman on February 3, 2024.[8] These early years were marked by modest membership growth and niche appeals to protest voters, setting the stage for the 2024 electoral breakthrough where Zuokas won a Seimas seat via a single-member district.[9]Electoral struggles and near-dissolution
Following its formation, the Lithuanian Freedom Union (Liberals)—predecessor to the current Centre-Right Union—faced mounting electoral challenges that marginalized its national presence. The party consistently failed to meet the 5% threshold required for proportional representation seats in Seimas elections, limiting it to sporadic wins in single-member districts dependent on local candidate appeal rather than broad ideological support.[10] In the 2020 parliamentary elections, operating as Freedom and Justice after an earlier rebranding, it secured just 2.0% of the proportional vote and one single-member seat, underscoring its inability to expand beyond niche urban or personalistic voter bases.[10] These perennial low results exacerbated organizational vulnerabilities inherent to Lithuania's electoral system, where small parties risk deregistration under the Political Parties Law if they demonstrate insufficient electoral participation, membership (minimum 1,000 registered members), or activity over consecutive cycles. By the mid-2010s, declining finances from minimal state funding—allocated proportionally to vote shares—and membership erosion prompted internal crises, including leadership transitions under figures like Artūras Zuokas, who assumed control to avert collapse.[1] The party's survival hinged on such interventions, as repeated failures to achieve parliamentary relevance fueled debates on merging with larger liberal or centre-right formations, nearly leading to formal dissolution amid threats of legal inactivation by the Central Electoral Commission. The existential pressures peaked around the late 2010s, when the party rebranded to Freedom and Justice in June 2020 in a bid to distance itself from prior liberal associations and appeal to conservative-leaning voters disillusioned with established parties. This move, driven by electoral irrelevance rather than ideological evolution, temporarily stabilized operations but highlighted the structural barriers small parties face in a fragmented yet threshold-dominated system favoring consolidated blocs. Without these adaptations, the organization risked the fate of similarly diminished groups, such as the Lithuanian Liberty Union, which dissolved in 2011 after losing its final Seimas seat in 2004.Revival through 2024 elections
Following the expulsion of MP Remigijus Žemaitaitis from the Freedom and Justice party on May 19, 2023, due to antisemitic statements, the party encountered significant internal divisions and leadership challenges that threatened its viability.[11] Under the leadership of Artūras Zuokas, the party restructured its candidacy lists and program ahead of the Seimas elections, emphasizing conservative-liberal policies on economic freedom and national identity to consolidate support among urban and liberal-conservative voters. [12] In the first round of the parliamentary elections on October 13, 2024, Freedom and Justice received approximately 1-2% of the proportional vote, insufficient for list seats but positioning candidates competitively in select single-member districts.[8] The second round on October 27, 2024, resulted in the party securing one seat via a direct constituency win, maintaining its minimal parliamentary presence from the 2020 elections despite the prior split and competition from Žemaitaitis's new Nemunas Dawn party, which drew away some populist voters.[13] [14] This single-seat retention represented a modest revival, averting the risk of complete exclusion from the Seimas after years of declining relevance since its 2020 merger formation from the Lithuanian Freedom Union and Order and Justice components, and enabling the party to influence niche debates on local governance and anti-corruption.[1] The outcome underscored the party's adaptability in a fragmented electorate, where larger centre-right forces like the Homeland Union dominated but smaller groups survived through targeted district campaigns.[15]Ideology and political positions
Core principles and centre-right orientation
The Centre-Right Union (CDS) orients itself within the centre-right of the Lithuanian political spectrum as a conservative-liberal party, blending classical liberal tenets with conservative priorities on national identity, security, and social stability. Established through the rebranding of the Freedom and Justice party on July 29, 2025, it bases its platform on principles drawn from classical and early modern political philosophy, advocating for individual liberty, the rule of law, and limited government intervention to foster personal responsibility and economic dynamism.[1][16] The party's programme explicitly rejects collectivist ideologies, positioning freedom and justice as interdependent foundations for societal progress, where market mechanisms and private initiative drive prosperity without undue state paternalism.[16] Central to its ideology is the conviction that only a free individual operating in an open, transparent society can construct a robust and secure state—a principle articulated in alignment with the philosophy of former President Valdas Adamkus, whom the party credits for embodying liberal-conservative governance. This orientation manifests in a commitment to strengthening national defence, upholding traditional family structures, and promoting ethical business practices, while critiquing excessive bureaucracy and corruption as barriers to merit-based advancement. The CDS views centre-right politics as a bulwark against both leftist statism and unchecked populism, prioritizing empirical outcomes like reduced inequality through opportunity expansion rather than redistribution.[17][16] In practice, this centre-right stance translates to policies emphasizing fiscal prudence, innovation-driven growth, and civic virtues such as personal accountability and community solidarity, distinguishing the party from more purely libertarian or socially progressive alternatives. Critics from left-leaning outlets have occasionally labeled its positions as populist, but the CDS maintains a focus on verifiable metrics of welfare improvement, such as GDP per capita growth and security indices, over ideological purity tests.[18][19]Economic policies
The Centre-Right Union endorses economic policies rooted in liberal principles, emphasizing market-driven growth, reduced state intervention, and incentives for personal initiative over welfare dependency. Its program prioritizes financial, economic, and social measures that promote employment and entrepreneurship, explicitly supporting policies that encourage individuals to seek work rather than social assistance.[16] This approach aligns with the party's conservative-liberal orientation, which views individual prosperity and business vitality as foundational to national economic success.[20] Key tenets include safeguarding "freedom to act for the creative individual," fostering environments that enable innovation and long-term economic expansion through deregulation and support for private sector dynamism.[16] The party critiques excessive redistribution, advocating instead for systemic reforms that reward productivity and minimize bureaucratic hurdles, as evidenced in evaluations of its platforms highlighting commitments to sustainable growth mechanisms.[21] These positions reflect a broader goal of enhancing Lithuania's economic competitiveness within the European Union framework, though the party's limited parliamentary representation—one seat in the Seimas as of 2024—constrains direct policy influence.[1]Social and cultural views
The Centre-Right Union emphasizes support for traditional family structures through pro-natalist policies, including a proposed "three children policy" offering financial incentives, accessible kindergartens, and housing programs targeted at young families in regional areas to encourage demographic growth and retain population outside major cities.[22] Party leader Artūras Zuokas has advocated for policies that strengthen family units, aligning with broader centre-right priorities on demographic sustainability amid Lithuania's declining birth rates, which stood at 1.18 children per woman in 2023. [23] On LGBT issues, the party supports legalization of same-sex civil partnerships while opposing same-sex marriage, as articulated by Zuokas during his 2014 presidential candidacy, reflecting a distinction between legal recognition of partnerships and redefinition of marriage.[24] This stance extends to education, where the party prioritizes parental consent in implementing life skills programs that include elements of sexual education, criticizing instances where schools overlook family input.[25] Regarding abortion, the party favors educational efforts over outright bans, with Zuokas emphasizing awareness and prevention through family support rather than restrictive legislation, consistent with Lithuania's existing framework allowing abortions up to 12 weeks under specific conditions.[26] In cultural policy, the Centre-Right Union promotes preservation of Lithuanian heritage, regional cultural identities, and increased funding for arts and digitization of national assets, while fostering patriotic education in schools to instill national values and life skills.[22] The party advocates for cultural diversity within a framework that balances minority inclusion—encompassing ethnic groups and other communities—with protection of traditional Lithuanian customs, as Zuokas has highlighted the need to address both progressive and conservative societal segments in policy-making.[27] Healthcare initiatives include enhanced mental health services and preventive care, integrated with social support for vulnerable groups like seniors, underscoring a commitment to social cohesion without explicit endorsement of expansive gender ideology reforms.[22]Foreign policy and national security
The Centre-Right Union, rebranded from the Freedom and Justice party in July 2025, advocates for a "wise and active" foreign policy, prioritizing economic diplomacy to advance Lithuania's interests abroad.[28][1] This approach reflects the party's conservative-liberal orientation, focusing on pragmatic international engagement rather than expansive geopolitical commitments detailed in its election platforms. Specific positions on core national security issues, such as bolstering NATO deterrence against Russian aggression or sustaining military aid to Ukraine, receive limited elaboration in party documents, aligning with the broader Lithuanian consensus on Euro-Atlantic integration without notable deviations.[28] Under leader Artūras Zuokas, the party has historically emphasized municipal-level international partnerships, including past cooperation agreements with cities like Guangzhou, China, though Lithuania's national pivot toward confronting Beijing's influence post-dates such initiatives.[29] On national security, the Centre-Right Union supports maintaining high defense expenditures—Lithuania allocated 2.75% of GDP to defense in 2024, exceeding NATO targets—while critiquing inefficiencies in procurement and urging streamlined border fortifications amid regional threats.[30] The party's platform implicitly endorses Vilnius's hawkish stance on Russia, including sanctions enforcement and hybrid threat resilience, but prioritizes domestic economic resilience as a security multiplier over doctrinal expansions like Taiwan advocacy, which larger parties debated in 2024 campaigns.[28][31]Leadership and internal organization
Key leaders and figures
Artūras Zuokas has served as the chairman of the Centre-Right Union since June 2020, initially leading its predecessor, the Freedom and Justice party, which officially rebranded to the Centre-Right Union on July 29, 2025.[1][32] Zuokas, a veteran Lithuanian politician born in 1968, previously headed the Lithuanian Freedom Union (Liberals) and other liberal-oriented groups, including the Liberal and Centre Union.[33] He secured the party's single seat in the Seimas during the 2024 parliamentary elections through a single-member constituency victory, marking its return to national representation after prior electoral setbacks.[8] Zuokas gained prominence in municipal politics as Mayor of Vilnius, first elected in 2000 at age 32—the youngest in the city's history—and re-elected in 2011 as leader of the "Yes" social movement, focusing on urban development and anti-corruption initiatives during his tenures from 2000–2001 and 2011–2015.[33][34] His leadership style, often characterized by pragmatic centre-right policies emphasizing economic liberalism and local governance reform, has defined the party's direction amid multiple rebrandings and alliances.[35] The party maintains a structure with Zuokas at the helm and ten vice-chairs, some appointed from prior roles and others newly elected to broaden internal representation, though specific figures beyond Zuokas have limited national visibility due to the party's modest size.[35]Party structure and membership
The Centre-Right Union maintains a centralized organizational structure with the party congress (suvažiavimas) as its highest authority, responsible for electing the chairman, approving the program, and making strategic decisions, typically convened annually or as needed. The executive board (valdyba), chaired by Artūras Zuokas—who assumed leadership amid the party's rebranding from Freedom and Justice on July 28, 2025—handles operational matters, including policy implementation and candidate nominations. Local branches (skyriai) operate in municipalities to coordinate regional activities, recruit supporters, and represent the party in local elections, with expansion efforts noted in recent years to bolster grassroots presence.[35][36] Membership is open to Lithuanian Republic citizens aged 18 or older who endorse the party's statutes, pay dues, and actively participate in its objectives, as outlined in standard Lithuanian party regulations requiring formal application and approval by local branches or the board. Members enjoy rights such as voting in internal elections, proposing initiatives, and accessing party resources, while duties include financial contributions and adherence to disciplinary rules. The party emphasizes ideological alignment with conservative-liberal principles, attracting individuals disillusioned with larger centre-right formations. As of mid-2025, official records indicate around 4,000 registered members, supporting its status as a minor but active player with one seat in the Seimas.Electoral history
Seimas elections
The Centre-Right Union, operating as the Freedom and Justice party prior to its July 2025 rebranding, has maintained a marginal presence in Seimas elections, primarily securing seats through single-mandate constituency victories led by party chair Artūras Zuokas rather than proportional representation in the multi-member district.[1] In the 2020 Seimas elections held on 11 and 25 October, the party garnered approximately 0.5% of the multi-member vote but won one seat when Zuokas prevailed in the Naujininkai–Rasa constituency with 28.4% of the vote in the runoff against the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party candidate.[37] This isolated success reflected the party's localized appeal in Vilnius urban areas, insufficient for broader proportional allocation amid a fragmented centre-right field dominated by the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats.[38] In the 2024 Seimas elections on 13 and 27 October, Freedom and Justice improved modestly to 0.75% of the multi-member vote (9,367 ballots), yielding no proportional seats, but secured two single-mandate victories, including Zuokas's reelection in Naujininkai–Rasa where he defeated the Homeland Union candidate with 52.3% in the second round.[39][9] The second seat stemmed from another constituency win, contributing to the party's total of two amid a leftward shift that elevated the Social Democrats to 52 seats overall.[38] Voter turnout reached 47.8% in the first round, with the party's gains attributable to anti-establishment sentiments in select urban pockets rather than ideological mobilization, as evidenced by its failure to surpass the 5% threshold for multi-member representation.[39] Earlier iterations under the Lithuanian Freedom Union (Liberals) banner yielded negligible results; for instance, in 2016, the party received under 1% nationally and no seats, underscoring chronic challenges in scaling beyond personality-driven campaigns.[40] The Centre-Right Union's post-2024 rebranding has not yet been tested in Seimas contests, with its Seimas representation remaining tied to Zuokas's incumbency and limited coalition potential in a parliament favoring larger centre-left and conservative blocs.[41]| Election Year | Multi-Member Vote % | Seats (Multi-Member / Single-Mandate / Total) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0.5 | 0 / 1 / 1 |
| 2024 | 0.75 | 0 / 2 / 2 |