Together even against wind since 1991
Lithuanian Liberal Youth before the 21st century
At the time when the first signs of the organization began to emerge, Lithuania was still under the influence and control of the occupying Soviet Union. Nevertheless, Lithuania was already taking bold steps toward liberation and independence: the Lithuanian Reform Movement (Sąjūdis) was forming, the Lithuanian Freedom League was active, and various underground national and cultural organizations were growing - groups that nurtured many of the key figures in the independent Lithuanian public life.
Former presidents
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2023–2026
Izidė Marcinkutė
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2022–2023
Umberto Masi
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2020–2022
Lukas Stravinskas
It is precisely that period, early 1988, that can be considered the origins of another organization - Lithuanian Liberal Youth. Discussions involving students and liberal-minded individuals, such as philosopher Arvydas Šliogeris, Professor Vytautas Radžvilas, sociologist Aleksandras Dobryninas, politician Kazys Bobelis, and philosopher Arūnas Degutis, began taking place in the Rectorate meeting hall of Vilnius University (VU). These discussions revolved around civic movements, the state, human rights, and individual freedoms. Eventually, the core of this group went on to establish the Vilnius University Lithuanian Reform Movement (VU LPS) Student Coordinating Council, chaired by Gintaras Steponavičius.
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2019–2020
Teresė Škutaitė
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2017–2019
Mykolas Knyza
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2016–2017
Mantvydas Šemeta
In the early years, meetings mainly focused on discussions and conversations. According to the organization's founders, key topics included the relationship between the state and the individual, the powers of the state, civil society, and opposition to totalitarianism. At the time, professors were invited to present the political philosophy and ideology of liberalism, and its relation to other political theories. Discussions included the works and ideas of John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and the distinctions between continental and British (Anglo-Saxon) liberalism.
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2014–2016
Mantas Šnioka
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2013–2014
Marija Markauskaitė
From these small gatherings, a large organization gradually began to form. On January 12, 1991, 14 people gathered to the founding meeting of the Vilnius Liberal Youth Club (VLYK), where Darius Laurinavičius became the first chairperson of a liberal youth organization in Lithuania. As liberal political parties began to take shape, so did the youth movement. According to Kazys Preikšas, one of the early founders, the idea to create a national youth organization independent from any political party came from Gintaras Steponavičius, after he left the founding congress of the Lithuanian Liberal Union.
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2011–2013
Eglė Markevičiūtė
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2010–2011
Aušrinė Armonaitė
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2008–2010
Edgaras Stanišauskas
On July 9, 1991, a VLYK address to Lithuanian youth was published in the Reform Movement newspaper Atgimimas. It called on youth to unite under a liberal youth organization. On November 30 – December 1, 1991, the Founding Assembly of the National Liberal Youth Organization took place, attended not only by youth from Vilnius but also from Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, and other Lithuanian cities. Once again, Darius Laurinavičius was elected as the organization's first chairperson. The elected Council members included: A. Andrijauskas, J. Brazaitytė, J. Čekuolis, D. Čepas, D. Kraulytė, R. Peškaitis, V. Pikturna, G. Potašenko, K. Preikšas, G. Steponavičius, L. Varanavičius, and V. Vilutis.
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2008
Raimonda Augutytė
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2007–2008
Guoda Lomanaitė
The foundation of early activities was built upon meetings and discussions with experts from the Lithuanian Free Market Institute. Gradually, conversations began about joining international organizations, and connections with them started forming. Lithuanian Liberal Youth (LLY) members participated in international projects. The LLY Council addressed the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania regarding constitutional reform, raised issues surrounding the Lithuanian Armed Forces and national minorities, and signed a declaration to establish a coordinating council of Lithuanian youth organizations - an umbrella structure that has since grown into today’s Lithuanian Youth Council (LiJOT). Events such as the LLY Summer School were established. Christmas campaigns and other charity initiatives were also organized collaborating with SOS Vaikai. It’s also worth noting that in April, a newsletter titled Kelyje (“On the Road”) was launched, which not only covered the organization’s key activities and events but also featured congratulations to members on weddings and new births.
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2006–2007
Marius Drochneris
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2004–2006
Rasa Maselskytė
During the Founding Assembly, the need to select a name for the newly formed group arose. Many options were proposed—among them, “Union of Young Liberals of Lithuania”, but ultimately, Kazys Preikšas, slowly rising from his seat, declared: “Let it be Lietuvos liberalus jaunimas (Lithuanian Liberal Youth)...” Thus was born the first LLY tradition: to preserve the name Lietuvos liberalus jaunimas without any additions such as “organization,” “union,” “movement,” or “association.” It is a name that embodies the very idea of freedom and youth.
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2002–2004
Donatas Kuras
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2001–2002
Maksimas Reznikovas
As Kazys Preikšas later shared, the name, to him, rejected rigid structure while preserving the importance of the individual. According to him, it reflected the feeling of an independent group of friends who made their own decisions about what was right. At the time, many were tired of the Young Communists and similar organizations. When it came to relations with political parties, the priority was supporting ideas, not organizational structures. Thus, while the Liberal Youth actively expressed its positions and influenced the Lithuanian Liberal Union, it remained devoted to independence - a principle the organization upholds to this day: ideas matter more than parties or personalities.
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2001–2000
Neringa Morozaitė
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1999–2000
Ingrida
Bilaišytė-Davison
In its early years, LLY had no official symbols, but in 1992, after a long creative process, the organization chose a symbol - a bird. A drawing of a blue seagull on a yellow background, proposed by Andrius Buldygerovas, was adopted as the LLY emblem. The choice of a seagull was symbolic, it is the only bird that can fly against the wind, just like Lithuanian Liberal Youth.
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1996–1998
Remigijus Šimašius
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1995–1996
Mindaugas Norvaišis
In 1992 and 1993, Gintaras Steponavičius was elected as the organization’s President. Even then, he openly stated his ambition to become a professional politician. During this time, international connections were established and major projects were implemented. One such project was Lithuania’s first youth essay competition, “The Government of the 21st Century”, as well as the first seminar organized in Lithuania by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. Regular meetings of the LLY Council were held, where decisions were made on events, statements, and public positions. The LLY Summer Camp, Summer School, and the Autumn Callings became key annual events. Members also actively participated in international projects and meetings. In 1993, LLY had its first official organizational T-shirts and was accepted into IFLRY, becoming the first organization from the former Soviet Union to join the International Federation of Liberal Youth.
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1994–1995
Jonas Čekuolis
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1992–1994
Gintaras Steponavičius
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1991–1992
Darius Laurinavičius
"Kelyje" grew from its initial two pages in the early issues to a 14-page publication by the end of 1994, covering a wide range of topics.
In the 1995 activity program, plans included continuing the School for Young Politicians, organizing the Summer Camp, Spring and Autumn Callings, Christmas and Easter charity events, basketball tournaments - all falling under the responsibility of the newly elected LLY President, Mindaugas Norvaišis. That same year, local branches held “Vincas Kudirka Readings” - seminars on the tradition and history of liberalism in Lithuania. A contest for upper-grade students called “Lithuania on the Threshold of 2000” was also held. An Information and Analytical Center was created to gather information on political parties, civil and youth organizations, statistics on Lithuania’s economy, press archives, and more. At the initiative of Gintaras Steponavičius, the LLY Signatory Club was formed to organize meetings with senior members of the organization. Early that same year, as relations with LiJOT improved, LLY member Algirdas Augustaitis was elected as LiJOT President. LLY continued to actively shape its positions on youth policy and elections to the Government and municipal councils.
In 1996, Remigijus Šimašius was elected as LLY President. He emphasized that LLY was an organization free of conformism, uniting the most energetic youth of the time, though it sometimes lacked responsibility and active engagement. That year’s Assembly included a policy proposal on national cultural policy, as well as discussions on the internal relationship between LLY and the liberal party, LLY's involvement in political activity, and how that engagement should be organized.
From then until 2001, LLJ Lithuanian Liberal Youth was led by its first women Presidents: Ingrida Bilaišytė-Davidson and Neringa Morozaitė, who continued the organization’s traditions while expanding its network of branches and representing liberal ideas in both political and public arenas.
