Lithuanian Female Leaders

Dalia Grybauskaitė became the first female president of Lithuania and the first to be re-elected. Popularly known as Lithuania’s Iron Lady and often compared to Margaret Thatcher, she has also been the UN Commissioner of the Year. A black belt in karate, she has mastery over four languages.

Ingrida Šimonytė is a Lithuanian economist and politician. She is the current Prime Minister of Lithuania. An influential politician, Šimonytė also served as the Minister of Finance from 7 July 2009 to 13 December 2012. In 2019 and 2020, Ingrida Šimonytė was named Delfi Women of the Year.

Emilia Plater was a Polish-Lithuanian revolutionary and noblewoman. Often compared with France's Joan of Arc, Plater is seen as a national heroine in Belarus, Lithuania, and Poland. Emilia Plater's story has inspired numerous works of art and literature and she is often seen as a symbol of women empowerment in Lithuania.

Lithuanian politician and chess-player Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen serves as speaker of the Seimas since November 2020. Her achievements in chess includes becoming Lithuanian champion twice, receiving FIDE’s Grandmaster title in 2010, and winning gold medal during European Women's Individual Championship in 2011. She joined politics as a member of Liberal Movement in 2015 and presently serves as Chairperson of the party.

Aušrinė Armonaitė is a Lithuanian politician and the current Minister for Economy and Innovation. Since 2019, she has been serving as the chairperson of the popular Freedom Party. Aušrinė Armonaitė previously served as a member of the conservative-liberal political party, Liberal Movement.

Kazimira Prunskienė scripted history when she became Lithuania’s first prime minister after the country’s independence from the USSR. Associated with the Communist Party, the Popular Peasants Union, and the People's Party, she has also taught economics and penned several books. She is known for her focus on women’s participation in politics.

Former Lithuanian judge Neringa Venckienė was part of the 11th Seimas of Lithuania. The Way of Courage party leader was in the middle of a huge controversy regarding the custody of her brother’s daughter, who was apparently molested in a case that led to the murders of several people.

Evelina Dobrovolska is a Polish-Lithuanian activist and politician. She is currently serving as the Minister for Justice of Lithuania in the Šimonytė Cabinet. Prior to her political career, Ewelina Dobrowolska achieved popularity after becoming one of the most important members of the European Foundation of Human Rights.

Gintarė Skaistė is a Lithuanian politician who is currently serving as the Minister for Finance of Lithuania in the Šimonytė Cabinet. She earned recognition as a politician between 2007 and 2016, during which she served as the Kaunas City Councillor.

Agnė Bilotaitė is a Lithuanian politician and the current Minister for the Interior of Lithuania in the Šimonytė Cabinet. Since 2008, Agnė Bilotaitė has been an important member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, the unicameral parliament of the country.

Aušra Maldeikienė is a Lithuanian politician, political economist, teacher, lecturer, publicist, and author. Having served as the Vilnius City Councilor and Member of the Seimas between 2015 and 2019, Maldeikienė was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 2019.

Irena Degutienė, member of Homeland Union, served as Minister for Social Security and Labour, twice as acting Prime Minister of Lithuania and as First Deputy Speaker of the Seimas. She then became the first woman to hold-office as Speaker of the Seimas. Thereafter she served as Deputy Speaker of the Seimas. She is implicated in the MG Baltic bribery scandal.