Artūras Zuokas Information
Artūras Zuokas (born February 21, 1968 in Kaunas) is a Lithuanian politician. He is former leader of the Liberal and Centre Union political party and the Mayor of Vilnius city municipality from 2000-2007 and from April 2011 onward. He was a member of the Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament).
In his youth, he was a war reporter in the First Gulf War, during which he taped footage that was shown all over the world (for example the bombing of the Baghdad TV Tower).[citation needed]
His political career has been characterised by controversy, corruption and comebacks.
Zuokas graduated from the School of Jonava.
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Election as Mayor, 2000
Zuokas was one of the campaign managers for Liberal Union of Lithuania in the 2000 Seimas elections. His party placed second and won 36 seats. It formed an alliance with the New Union (Socialliberals) and Rolandas Paksas, the leader of the Liberal Union and Vilnius city municipality mayor, became the Prime Minister. There were two candidates to fill in the vacant mayor post: vice-mayor Algirdas Kudzys, and Zuokas, both members of the Liberal Union. There were doubts if Zuokas should become the mayor as he was very young, inexperienced in politics (he was elected to the council just in Spring 2000), and as a businessman he had strong personal interests (for example, he owned a private company in Užupis and some were afraid that he might spend the city funds to reconstruct this district). However, on November 15, 2000, the council voted 27-18 to make Zuokas, at age 32, the youngest mayor in the history of Vilnius.[citation needed]
Mayoral projects
Vilnius City Municipality buildingA number of projects championed by Zuokas[citation needed] have since been completed:
- The Mindaugas Bridge over the Neris River was completed for the 750th anniversary of Mindaugas coronation in 2003. It was contemplated as part of effort to reconstruct Žalgiris Stadium, Žalgiris swimming pool, and Vilnius Concert and Sport Palace in Žirmūnai. However, those projects are still in progress.
- The reconstruction of Gediminas Avenue was completed but is crumbling due to inappropriate materials being used.[1]
- An underground parking lot under the Municipality Square has been opened.
- A two-level crossing was built to ease traffic jams for Pilaitė residents.
- A new municipal building was opened on the right bank of the Neris River. Zuokas revitalized and supported Rolandas Paksas' idea to build a new commercial center in Šnipiškės. The municipal building has been joined by the new Europa Tower and shopping center. Construction was funded by selling old administrative buildings scattered around the city.[citation needed]
- Construction of the Constitution Avenue is complete.
- Užupis and Malūnai Streets in Užupis district were reconstructed and water supply pipes were replaced. This was justified by the claim that those streets are popular among tourists. However, Zuokas’ house as well as his company are both located on Užupis Street.
In Spring 2001, Vilnius city municipality unveiled a new internet portal www.vilnius.lt.
Corruption
Zuokas was prosecuted but found not guilty of electoral fraud during the 2003 municipal elections.[2] He was later convicted of bribing a city council member whilst he was Mayor and fined.[3] A parliamentary commission also concluded that he could have been the "subscriber" in a large bribery scandal.[4]
Member of Parliament
In the Lithuanian parliamentary election, 2008, his Liberal and Center Union party won 8 seats. The party joined the ruling coalition led by Andrius Kubilius and was given the Health and Interior Minister positions.
Zuokas put himself forward to be Health Minister but withdrew after an outcry over his bribery conviction.[3]
Election as Mayor, 2011
In 2010, March, Zuokas expressed willingness to become a mayor of Kaunas, the second largest city of Lithuania, but only if Lithuania would introduce direct elections.[citation needed]
After a successful 2011 municipal election campaign in February, Zuokas became Mayor of Vilnius once again, as his party won the most votes and gained 12 seats in the 51-seat Vilnius city council.
References
- ^ "Nustatyta: Gedimino prospekto rekonstrukcija atlikta su broku". http://www.diena.lt/naujienos/miestas/nustatyta-gedimino-prospekto-rekonstrukcija-atlikta-su-broku-271774.
- ^ Court: Mayor Zuokas is not guilty, Baltic Times
- ^ a b Zuokas bows to public pressure, Baltic Times, 2008-11-13
- ^ Lawmakers target Zuokas after commission fingers him as mysterious ‘subscriber’, Baltic Times
- Delfi.lt news archives (Lithuanian)
External links
- Blog of Artūras Zuokas (Lithuanian)
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| Name | Zuokas, Arturas |
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| Date of birth | 1968 |
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Categories: 1968 births | Living people | Mayors of Vilnius | People from Jonava
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