Ingrida Šimonytė

Ingrida Šimonytė, born on November fifteenth, nineteen seventy-four, in Vilnius, is a prominent Lithuanian economist and politician. She has made significant contributions to her country, serving as the seventeenth prime minister of Lithuania from two thousand twenty to two thousand twenty-four. A member of the Seimas since two thousand sixteen, she currently holds the position of Leader of the Opposition, having transitioned from her previous role as Minister of Finance in the second Kubilius cabinet from two thousand nine to two thousand twelve.

Šimonytė's academic journey began at Vilnius University, where she earned her degree in business in nineteen ninety-six, followed by a master's degree in nineteen ninety-eight. Her career commenced in the Ministry of Finance, where she worked as the chief of the tax division until two thousand four. Her expertise in economics led her to be appointed as finance minister during a challenging economic period, where she was tasked with revitalizing the Lithuanian economy post-Great Recession.

After stepping down as finance minister in two thousand twelve, Šimonytė took on various roles, including deputy chairperson of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania and chairperson of the Vilnius University Council. She also became a professor of economics at the Vilnius University Institute of International Relations and Political Science, as well as at ISM University of Management and Economics. Her return to politics in two thousand sixteen saw her successfully win a parliamentary seat as an independent candidate representing the Antakalnis constituency.

In two thousand eighteen, she announced her candidacy for the presidency, securing the nomination from the Homeland Union. She won the first round of the election in May two thousand nineteen but ultimately lost to Gitanas Nausėda in the runoff. Following her reelection to Parliament in the two thousand twenty elections, she was proposed as the prime ministerial candidate and took office in December. In October two thousand twenty-three, she declared her intention to run for president again in the two thousand twenty-four election, but faced another defeat against Nausėda, receiving twenty-four percent of the vote.

Šimonytė's tenure as prime minister concluded after her party lost to the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania in the two thousand twenty-four parliamentary elections. Her journey reflects a commitment to public service and economic development in Lithuania.