Vilija Blinkevičiūtė
Vilija Blinkevičiūtė MEP | |
---|---|
Chairwoman of the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania | |
Assuming office 29 May 2021 | |
Succeeding | Gintautas Paluckas |
Vice Chairwoman of European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs | |
Assumed office 18 July 2019 | |
Chairwoman of European Parliament Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality | |
In office 25 January 2017 – 1 July 2019 | |
Vice Chairwoman of European Parliament Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality | |
In office 7 July 2014 – 18 January 2017 | |
Member of European Parliament | |
Assumed office 14 July 2009 | |
Constituency | Lithuania |
Member of the Seimas | |
In office 17 November 2008 – 28 June 2009 | |
Succeeded by | Marija Aušrinė Pavilionienė |
Constituency | Multi-member |
In office 15 November 2004 – 17 November 2008 | |
Preceded by | |
Succeeded by | Audronius Ažubalis |
Constituency | Šeškinė |
Minister for Social Security and Labour of Lithuania | |
In office 9 November 2000 – 9 December 2008 | |
Prime Minister | Rolandas Paksas Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas Gediminas Kirkilas |
Preceded by | Irena Degutienė |
Succeeded by | Rimantas Dagys |
Personal details | |
Born | Linkuva, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union | 3 March 1960
Political party | New Union (Social Liberals) (2002–2006) Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (since 2006) |
Alma mater | Vilnius University |
Website | web |
Vilija Blinkevičiūtė (born 3 March 1960 in Linkuva, Lithuania) is a Lithuanian lawyer and politician, Member of the European Parliament and former long-term Minister for Social Security and Labour. Blinkevičiūtė is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania since 2006.[1][2]
Early life and education[]
Blinkevičiūtė was born in Linkuva, Lithuania. After graduation with honours from Linkuva Secondary School, she entered Law Faculty of the Vilnius State University, from which she graduated in 1983, having obtained the qualification of Master of Laws.
Political career[]
Since 1983, Blinkevičiūtė has dedicated all her professional life to working in the Ministry of Social Security and Labour until she turned to politics and became a Vice Minister of Social Security and Labour in 1996.
In 2000 Blinkevičiūtė was appointed as Minister for Social Security and Labour, first in the government of Prime Minister Rolandas Paksas. She remained in the post until 2008.[1]
Between 2004 and 2009 Blinkevičiūtė was member of Seimas.
Member of the European Parliament, 2009–present[]
In 2009 and in 2014 Blinkevičiūtė has been elected to the European Parliament, as the representative of the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania. In the European Parliament, she belongs to the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.
Following the 2014 elections, Blinkevičiūtė became a Vice-Chair of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM); she was elected the Chair of the committee in January 2017.
In addition, Blinkevičiūtė is a full member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and of the Delegation to Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, and a substitute member of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee. She also belongs to the Intergroup on Disability and the Intergroup on Children’s Rights[3] and to the Intergroup on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights.[4]
Recognition[]
In 2004 Blinkevičiūtė was bestowed with the Cross of Commander of the Order for Merits to Lithuania.
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Vilija Blinkevičiūtė" (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ". Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ Members of the European Parliament Intergroup on Children’s Rights European Parliament.
- ^ Members European Parliament Intergroup on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights.
- Profile of Vilija Blinkevičiūtė on the official website of Seimas (Parliament) of the Republic of Lithuania
- 2014 elections to the European Parliament - candidates of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party
External links[]
- Official website (in Lithuanian)
- Profile of Vilija Blinkevičiūtė on the official website of the European Parliament
- 1960 births
- Living people
- Women MEPs for Lithuania
- Lithuanian jurists
- MEPs for Lithuania 2009–2014
- MEPs for Lithuania 2014–2019
- MEPs for Lithuania 2019–2024
- People from Linkuva
- New Union (Social Liberals) politicians
- Social Democratic Party of Lithuania MEPs
- Vilnius University alumni
- Women government ministers of Lithuania
- Women members of the Seimas
- 21st-century Lithuanian politicians