Political activity of Justinas Staugaitis in independent Lithuania from 1918 to 1926

When Lithuania declared its independence on February 16, 1918, Justinas Staugaitis was among those 20 people who proclaimed the restoration of the state. Justinas Staugaitis was the member of the Lithuanian Parliament for the first three terms of Office from 1920 to 1926. In the fall of 1922, as the oldest member of the parliament, he led to the first sitting. In his congratulatory speech, he emphasized two the most important priorities: social exclusion, the consolidation of social justice as well as the development and improvement of educational system Justinas Staugaitis served as chairman of the Seimas since 1923. According to the state constitution, he had the right to deputize the president. Being the chairman, Justinas Staugaitis faced a lot of challenges: to make the work of the Seimas meaningful and effective and to reconcile radically different views of the parliament members for the sake of public affairs. Justinas Staugaitis was one of the drafters of the Constitution. He worked in the Constitution Commission of the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania. When the question of the presidential institution was considered, he suggested the modern idea that the president of Lithuania should be elected by the citizens. The idea was not realized, however, Justinas Staugaitis‘ government formation principle, that the president chooses the prime minister, and he/she forms the cabinet, was accepted. The provision was enshrined in the Constitution. Being a clergyman, Justinas Staugaitis was concerned about the state and church relations. It should be noted that while defending the interests of the church he always behaved correctly against the opponents. One more field of his activities was related to social reforms. After becoming the Ordinary of the diocese of Telšiai, he tried to defend the interests of the faithful