Aktywność polityczna mniejszości polskiej w Republice Litewskiej (1990-2024)

ENThe article discusses the political activity of the Polish minority in the independent Republic of Lithuania after 1990. At its inception, the Polish minority had to position itself in relation to the Lithuanian independence movement and its efforts to restore statehood. The legal framework provided by the independent Lithuanian state for political organizations to conduct their activities, particularly in the context of participation in elections, is characterized. Special attention is given to the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania (AWPL). This party, established in 1994, adopted a program aimed at realizing the demands of the Polish minority and chose to achieve these goals by strengthening its position on the national stage (including through cooperation with other national minority groups) and in local government units. AWPL has been participating in elections in Lithuania, both at the national level (parliamentary, European Parliament, and presidential elections) and at the local level (local government elections). Continuously since 1996, its representatives have held seats in the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (in the current term of office, 3 members of parliament were elected as party's representatives); in two districts of the Vilnius region, the party has maintained a majority in municipal councils since 1995 and participates in coalition governance in other local government units. Besides that AWPL has also a representative in the European Parliament. However, AWPL's activities do not exhaust the full scope of political engagement of Poles in Lithuania, hence attention is given to other political initiatives aimed at advocating for the Polish minority's demands. Keywords: Lithuania, Poles in Lithuania, Polish minority, national minorities, political activity.

• Politikos mokslai / Political sciences
• Istorija / History