Laurynas Mindaugas Stankevičius (10 August 1935 – 17 March 2017) was aLithuanian economist and politician who served as the 7thPrime Minister of Lithuania from February to November 1996. He previously served as theMinister of Social Security and Labour from 1993 to 1994, and after being prime minister, was a member of theSeimas from 1996 to 1998, and laterMinister of Health from 1998 to 1999. Formerly a member of theCommunist Party of Lithuania, following independence he joined the newly formedDemocratic Labour Party.
Stankevičius was born in Aukštadvaris,Trakai District, on 10 August 1935,[1][2][3][4] five years before Lithuania was occupied by theSoviet Union and became theLithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic. He attended high school at theAntanas Vienuolis Secondary School in Vilnius, graduating in 1953.[1][2] From 1953 to 1957, he attended theLeningrad Institute of Finance and Economics (nowSaint Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance).[1][2]
After graduation, he worked as an economist of theLithuanian SSR Ministry of Finance, and was then governor of the Agricultural Finance Administration.[1][2] From 1969, he was the permanent representative of theCouncil of Ministers of the Lithuanian SSR to theCouncil of Ministers of the Soviet Union, and beginning in 1977, he was the Vice Chairman of the State Labour Committee.[1][2] From 1988 to 1990, he was the First Deputy Minister of Social Security and Labour, until the Lithuanian SSRdeclared independence in March 1990 as the Republic of Lithuania.[1][2]
Following independence, Stankevičius, who had been a member of theCommunist Party of Lithuania, joined its successor party, theDemocratic Labour Party.[1][2] From September 1993 to July 1994, he served as Minister of Social Security and Labour under Prime MinisterAdolfas Šleževičius.[1][2][4] From 1994 to 1996, he was Minister of Administration Reforms and Self-government Affairs.[1][2][3][4] On 15 February 1996, he was appointed prime minister by PresidentAlgirdas Brazauskas, a position he held until 27 November 1996, a little more than nine months total.[1][2][3][4]
After leaving the office of prime minister, Stankevičius was elected to theSeimas, the Lithuanian parliament, where he served until 1998.[1][3] While in the Seimas, he served on the Committee on Social Affairs and Labour.[1] From 1998 to 1999, he served as Minister of Health under PresidentValdas Adamkus and Prime MinisterGediminas Vagnorius.[1][3][4] In 1999, he retired from politics, residing in Vilnius.
Stankevičius was married toIrena Stankevičienė(Lithuanian), a formerSupreme Court of Lithuania judge.[1] They had one daughter, Rūta (born 1970).[1]
He spokePolish andRussian in addition to his nativeLithuanian.[1]
Stankevičius died of natural causes on 17 March 2017 at the age of 81.[2][3][4] His body was laid out in Vilnius on 20 March, and the funeral took place atAntakalnis Cemetery the next day.
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| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Lithuania 15 February 1996 – 27 November 1996 | Succeeded by |
