Kazimira Prunskienė, Lithuania's first Prime Minister after the restoration of independence, has died

Kazimira Prunskienė was born on February 26, 1943, in the village of Vasiuliškės, Švenčionys District. After graduating from Vilnius University in 1965, she engaged in teaching and scientific activities. She also worked in Hungary and the then GDR, and in the second half of the 1980s, she held leadership positions in scientific and educational institutions in Lithuania.

In 1988, she became one of the authors of the concept of economic independence for the Lithuanian SSR and was among the founders of the "Sąjūdis" public movement. Later, she took the post of Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Lithuanian SSR, was elected a People's Deputy of the USSR, and participated in the work of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the Congress of People's Deputies.

In February 1990, Prunskienė became a deputy of the Supreme Council of Lithuania, and on March 11, she signed the Act on the Restoration of Independence. A few days later, on March 17, she headed the first government of independent Lithuania and led it until January 10, 1991.

In 1990, Prunskienė held meetings with leaders of several Western states, including US President George H.W. Bush, UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, French President François Mitterrand, and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. For her active international work, she was called the "Amber Lady."

After serving as Prime Minister, she continued her political career. She was one of the founders of the Lithuanian Women's Party, headed it and the political structures established on its basis, and was repeatedly elected to the Seimas. From 2004 to 2008, she served as Minister of Agriculture. She was also one of the initiators of the Baltic Women's Basketball League and led this organization for more than fifteen years.

In 2004 and 2009, Kazimira Prunskienė participated in the presidential elections in Lithuania. In 2004, she even made it to the second round and received 47.8% of the votes, narrowly losing to Valdas Adamkus (52.6%). In 2009, however, her achievements were more modest — only fifth place with 3.91%.

In February 2012, the politician suffered a severe stroke and several operations. After prolonged treatment and rehabilitation, she hardly participated in public life anymore. In recent years, Prunskienė lived at her son's estate in Švenčionys District.

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