Saulius Skvernelis entered the office of Prime Minister of Lithuania in December 2016 following a victory with the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union. His career represents a transition from law enforcement leadership to the center of national governance, marked by his tenure as Minister of the Interior and subsequent parliamentary service spanning nearly a decade of institutional change.
Early Career in Law Enforcement
Born in 1970 in Kaunas, Skvernelis completed his education at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University in 1994. He began his professional path in the law enforcement sector in 1998, working as a traffic police inspector within the Trakai District Municipality. Over the following years, he advanced through the hierarchy, culminating in his appointment as General Commissioner of Police of Lithuania on 7 March 2011. During his command, he managed the controversial 2012 transfer of the daughter of Drąsius Kedys, a high-profile operation involving 240 officers.
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In November 2014, Skvernelis accepted the appointment as Minister of the Interior, succeeding Dailis Alfonsas Barakauskas. His term included navigating public safety challenges, such as the 2015 escape of Igor Molotkov in Vilnius. During the European migrant crisis, he navigated domestic political pressure while expressing skepticism regarding European Union migrant quotas. He held this cabinet position until March 2016, departing to pursue a seat in the Seimas under the banner of the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union.
Premiership and Legislative Activity
Skvernelis assumed the role of Prime Minister on 13 December 2016, leading a cabinet that oversaw significant policy shifts, including the introduction of child benefits, income tax adjustments, and changes to pension and wage structures. His administration faced criticism regarding teacher pay reform, which resulted in a major national strike. He remained in office until 2020. In 2022, he established the Union of Democrats 'For Lithuania'. Throughout his legislative career, he has served as a member of the Seimas intermittently between 2016 and 2024, also holding the position of Speaker of the Seimas from 14 November 2024 until 10 September 2025.
Fast facts
- Born: 1970, Kaunas
- Prime Minister of Lithuania: 2016–2020
- Minister of the Interior: 2014–2016
- Speaker of the Seimas: 2024–2025
- Education: Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Mykolas Romeris University
- Award: Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
Questions readers ask
Which political parties has Saulius Skvernelis been associated with?
He served in a parliamentary group for the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union until 2022 and subsequently founded the Union of Democrats 'For Lithuania'.
What major roles did he hold in the Seimas?
He served as a member of the Seimas across multiple terms between 2016 and 2024 and held the position of Speaker of the Seimas from 2024 to 2025.
Achievements
- Prime Minister of Lithuania (2016–2020)
- Minister of the Interior (2014–2016)
- Member of the Seimas (from 2024)
- Member of the Seimas (2020–2024)
- Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
- Educated at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University and Mykolas Romeris University
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