Eugenijus Gentvilas

Eugenijus Gentvilas was born on 14 March 1960 in Želvaičiai village, Telšiai District, Lithuania.

„Date of birth | 14 March 1960 Place of birth | Želvaičiai Village, Telšiai District, Lithuania“

He is married to a woman named Aušra and has three adult children: son Simonas and daughters Rūta and Rasa.

„Vedęs. Žmona Aušra. Turi tris suaugusius vaikus – sūnų Simoną ir dukteris Rūtą bei Rasą“

Simonas Gentvilas, his son, is also a politician who became the Minister of the Environment of Lithuania in 2020.

„Trys E. Gentvilo vaikai gimė kas dvejus metus. Vyriausias ir geriausiai Lietuvos žmonėms pažįstamas yra sūnus Simonas Gentvilas, dabartinis aplinkos ministras.“

His son Simonas Gentvilas – also a politician – has amassed substantial assets of his own. As of 2024, Simonas declared roughly €328,600 in assets (including real estate and other property) and had an unpaid loan of about €125,900, giving him a considerable net worth in the context of Lithuanian public officials.

„Jo sūnaus Simono Gentvilo pajamų deklaracija įspūdingesnė. Jo turtas įvertintas 328 585,01 euro. … Jis sako, kad bendrai turtą reiktų vertinti įskaičiuojant ir paskolos sumą, kuri siekia 125 888 eurus.“

He earned a Doctor of Natural Sciences degree (Ph.D.) in 1993.

„1993 | Doctor of Natural Sciences“

He graduated from Vilnius State University (now Vilnius University) in 1983 with a diploma in geography.

„1978–1983 | Diploma in Geography, Vilnius State University (currently Vilnius University)“

From 1983 to 1990 he worked as a research fellow at the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences (in Vilnius and Klaipėda divisions).

„1983–1990 | Research Fellow, Vilnius and Klaipėda Divisions, Lithuanian Academy of Sciences“

He was a lecturer at Klaipėda University from 1993 to 1997.

„1993–1997 | Lecturer, Klaipėda University“

He served as the Director General of the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority from 2009 to 2012.

„2009–2012 | Director General, Klaipėda State Seaport Authority“

During his tenure at the port authority, Gentvilas reported a bribery attempt by a contractor’s director – Pranciškus Jurgutis of “Klaipėdos hidrotechnika” – who had handed him a note with an offer of 200,000 Litas.

„Pernai lapkritį E.Gentvilas kreipėsi į specialiąsias tarnybas po P.Jurgučio apsilankymo jo kabinete. Esą uosto vadovui buvo pateiktas lapelis su 200 tūkst. litų sumos įrašu.“

In the European Parliament, Gentvilas served as a Vice-Chair (Deputy Chairman) of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) group from 2004 until 2007.

„20-07-2004 / 26-02-2007: Liberalų ir demokratų aljanso už Europą frakcija - Pirmininko pavaduotojas“

Gentvilas has been a member of Lithuania’s liberal political party since 1993 (initially the Lithuanian Liberal Union, now the Liberal Movement).

„Since 1993 | Member,... Liberals Union (currently Liberals Movement of the Republic of Lithuania)“

He served as the chairman of Lithuania’s liberal parties multiple times: leading the Lithuanian Liberal Union in 1996–1999 and 2001–2003, and later chairing the Liberal Movement in 2017–2019.

„Chair (1996–1999, 2001–2003, 2017–2019), Liberals Union (currently Liberals Movement of the Republic of Lithuania)“

He was the first deputy chairman of the Liberal Movement from 2012 to 2017.

„First Deputy Chair (2012–2017), Liberals Movement of the Republic of Lithuania“

After the Liberal Union merged into the Liberal and Centre Union, he became the first deputy chairman of the Liberal and Centre Union in 2003.

„Nuo 2003 m. – buvo Liberalų ir centro sąjungos pirmininko pirmasis pavaduotojas.“

He was the head (elder) of the Liberal Movement’s parliamentary group (Seimas faction leader) in 2016.

„Chair, Liberals Movement Political Group (2016)“

Gentvilas was a member of the Supreme Council – Reconstituent Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania from 1990 to 1992, which declared the country’s independence.

„1990–1992 m. – Lietuvos Respublikos Aukščiausiosios Tarybos-Atkuriamojo Seimo deputatas.“

He is one of the signatories of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania, having voted for the independence declaration on 11 March 1990.

„Signatory to the Act of Independence of Lithuania“

Beginning in 2012, he returned as a member of the Seimas (Parliament) and served in the 11th (2012–2016), 12th (2016–2020), and 13th (2020–2024) Seimas, and he is a member of the current 14th Seimas (2024–2028).

„2012–2016 m. ir 2016–2020 m. – Lietuvos Respublikos Seimo narys... Nuo 2020 m. lapkričio 13 d. Lietuvos Respublikos Seimo narys.“

He served as the Mayor of Klaipėda City Municipality from 1997 to 2001 and was a member of the Klaipėda City Council in 1995–2004.

„1997–2001 | Mayor, Klaipėda City Municipality 1995–2004 | Member, Klaipėda City Municipal Council“

In 2001, he was appointed as the Minister of the Economy of the Republic of Lithuania.

„2001 | Minister of the Economy of the Republic of Lithuania“

He also briefly served as the Acting Prime Minister of Lithuania in 2001.

„2001 | Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania“

Gentvilas was a Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009.

„2004–2009 | Member of the European Parliament“

From 2007 to 2009, he continued in the ALDE group’s leadership as a member of the group’s Bureau in the European Parliament.

„27-02-2007 / 15-06-2009: Liberalų ir demokratų aljanso už Europą frakcija - Biuro narys“

Gentvilas is a member of the Liberal Movement’s board (valdyba), reflecting his continued involvement in the party’s leadership structure.

„Eugenijus Gentvilas Seimo narys, Valdybos narys“

As of November 2024, he is the Deputy Chair of the Seimas Committee on Human Rights.

„2024-11-21 | Žmogaus teisių komitetas, Komiteto pirmininko pavaduotojas“

During the 2020–2024 term, he was a member of the Seimas Committee on Human Rights and a member of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

„2020–2024 | Member, Committee on Human Rights Member, Anticorruption Commission“

In the 2016–2020 Seimas, he served as a member of the Committee on Economics and of the Commission for Energy and Sustainable Development.

„2016–2020 | Member, Committee on Economics | Member, Commission for Energy and Sustainable Development“

From 2012 to 2016, he was a member of the Seimas Committee on Rural Affairs.

„Member, Committee on Rural Affairs (2012–2016)“

In the 1990 elections to the Supreme Council, he was elected in the Naujakiemis constituency No. 42 (Klaipėda city).

„1990 m. kovo 4 d. –... išrinktas Naujakiemio rinkiminėje apygardoje Nr. 42 (Klaipėdos m.).“

He was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 2004 on the Liberal and Centre Union’s list.

„2004–2009 m. – Europos Parlamento narys (išrinktas pagal Liberalų ir centro sąjungos sąrašą).“

He returned to the Seimas in 2012, being elected as the third-ranked candidate on the Liberal Movement’s national list in that election.

„Liberalų sąjūdžio atstovai: 1. Eligijus Masiulis, 2. Remigijus Šimašius, 3. Eugenijus Gentvilas, 4. Gintaras Steponavičius...“

In 2024, he won a single-member seat in the Seimas, being elected in the Pašilaičiai constituency (No. 13) as a Liberal Movement candidate.

„Iškėlė: Liberalų sąjūdis Išrinktas: Pašilaičių (Nr. 13) apygardoje“

In the 2012, 2016, and 2020 parliamentary elections, Gentvilas secured his Seimas seat via the Liberal Movement’s nationwide party list rather than by winning an individual single-member constituency. He was placed high on the party list in those elections, allowing him to enter the Seimas based on the party’s proportional vote share.

„2016–2020 m. – Lietuvos Respublikos Seimo narys (išrinktas pagal Liberalų sąjūdžio sąrašą). Nuo 2020 m. lapkričio 13 d. – Lietuvos Respublikos Seimo narys (išrinktas pagal sąrašą)“

In the 2020 parliamentary election, Gentvilas was initially listed as number 2 on the Liberal Movement’s candidate list, but after voters’ preferential votes were tallied, he ended up ranked 6th on the list (still securing a seat via the party’s proportional representation).

„2/6 | Eugenijus Gentvilas | Pilaitės-Karoliniškių (The first number is initial list position, the second after preferential voting)“

He was the Liberal Movement’s lead candidate in the 2024 European Parliament elections (holding the #1 spot on the party’s list), although the Liberal Movement ultimately did not win any seats in that election.

„Eugenijus Gentvilas. … Antruoju numeriu sąraše įrašytas dabartinis europarlamentaras Petras Auštrevičius, trečiuoju – Seimo narė Edita Rudelienė.“

During his tenure as Director of Klaipėda State Seaport (around 2009–2010), Gentvilas’s monthly salary was approximately 2.5 thousand euros, which he later noted was relatively low compared to his successors’ pay.

„Per krizę krovėme daugiau krovinių nei dabar. Tačiau mano atlyginimas buvo 2,5 tūkst. eurų. Tai viską pasako“

According to his 2024 parliamentary election asset declaration, Gentvilas owned assets worth about €278,324 and held €15,182 in cash, while his total income in the preceding year was €57,301 (with €11,417 in taxes paid).

„Vilniuje kandidatuojantis Eugenijus Gentvilas deklaravo turto už 278 324 eurus. Jo piniginės lėšos – 15 182 eurai. Pernai jis gavo 57 301,25 euro pajamų ir sumokėjo 11 417,44 euro mokesčių.“

Gentvilas’s official net worth appeared to jump by about €685,000 in 2015 (with his declared real estate value rising from €113k to €392k, and land value from €149k to €516k) largely due to a technicality — he acknowledged that he likely failed to convert his asset values from Lithuanian litas to euros in earlier declarations, leading to an artificial surge on paper. Notably, he had no outstanding loans during that period.

„Pagal grynojo turto pokytį eurais pirmauja Eugenijus Gentvilas – jo grynasis turtas išaugo 685 286 Eur. Didžiausią įtaką padarė nekilnojamojo turto vertės pokyčiai – pastatų vertė išaugo nuo 113 tūkst. Eur iki 392 tūkst. Eur, o žemės – nuo 149 tūkst. Eur iki 516 tūkst. Eur. Seimo narys neturi paskolų. Tiesa, p. Gentvilas tvirtina, jog jis deklaracijose turto verčių nepakeitė į eurus.“

The base monthly salary of a member of the Seimas was about €3,356 (gross) in 2019, with higher figures for those in positions like committee chairs or parliamentary leaders.

„Šiuo metu minimalioji mėnesinė alga šalyje siekia 555 eurus, Seimo nario pareiginė alga siekia 3 356 eurus neatskaičius mokesčių. Seimo narių atlyginimai gali skirtis priklausomai nuo jų einamų pareigų“

He was the director of the Lithuanian–US private company UAB Klaipėdos vystymo grupė from 1995 to 1997, and was a founder of the Klaipėda Free Economic Zone.

„1995–1997 | Director,... UAB Klaipėdos vystymo grupė; Founder, Klaipėda Free Economic Zone“

In 1988–1990, he was a member of the Seimas (Council) of the Lithuanian Sąjūdis Reform Movement.

„1988–1990 m. – Lietuvos Persitvarkymo Sąjūdžio Seimo... narys.“

He was an active participant in the Lithuanian Green Movement in the late 1980s.

„Lietuvos žaliųjų judėjimo dalyvis.“

He worked on the campaign staff of Stasys Lozoraitis during the first presidential election in 1993.

„1993 m. – pirmųjų... Prezidento rinkimų metu dirbo kandidato Stasio Lozoraičio rinkimų štabe.“

In 2018 the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority filed a lawsuit against Gentvilas, which he publicly called illogical and possibly an act of revenge by certain interests.

„buvęs Klaipėdos valstybinio jūrų uosto direkcijos vadovas Eugenijus Gentvilas sako, kad... jam pateiktas teismo ieškinys yra nelogiškas ir galimai -... kerštas.“

In August 2025, the Seimas Ethics and Procedures Commission ruled that Gentvilas did not violate the code of conduct when he called fellow MP Artūras Skardžius a “suski” (scumbag) and a liar during a TV debate.

„Trečiadienį posėdžiavusi Seimo Etikos ir procedūrų komisija (EPK) nusprendė, jog „Nemuno aušros“ atstovą Artūrą Skardžių suskiu ir melagiu „Lietuvos ryto“ televizijos laidoje išvadinęs liberalas E. Gentvilas nepažeidė politikų elgesio kodekso normų.“

Gentvilas and his family privately own significant forest lands (approximately 40 hectares in total – Eugenijus about 33 ha and his son Simonas 8 ha). Both father and son have been active in proposing to abolish the 5% tax on income from timber sales in private forests, a change that would also personally benefit them as forest owners, raising conflict-of-interest concerns.

„Liberalai … siūlė panaikinti mokestį privačių miškų savininkams už jų parduotą medieną. Šias pataisas aktyviai palaikė ir siūlė Simonas ir Eugenijus Gentvilai, kurie, kaip pripažino, patys valdo nemažus privataus miško plotus. … S. Gentvilas teigė, kad pats valdo 8 hektarus miško, E. Gentvilas sakė valdantis 33 hektarus. … iš viso jų šeima … valdo apie 40 hektarų miškų.“

In 2018, as party chairman, Gentvilas warned that if the election commission revoked another state subsidy, the Liberal Movement could go bankrupt.

„Liberalų sąjūdžio pirmininkas Eugenijus Gentvilas... skaičiuoja, kad VRK nusprendus atimti dar vieną dotaciją, partija tiesiog bankrutuotų.“

In July 2025, Gentvilas publicly criticized President Gitanas Nausėda as “minkštakūnis” (literally “soft-bodied,” implying spinelessness). The President’s office retaliated with an unusually harsh remark – an advisor quoted Nausėda calling Gentvilas “sena politinė šiukšlė” (an “old political trash”) that voters hadn’t yet thrown away. Nausėda later confirmed he used that epithet and stated he did not regret it.

„Aštrios kritikos prezidentą praėjusią savaitę “minkštakūniu” pavadinęs Seimo narys... E. Gentvilas... susilaukė [atsako]. Pasak šalies vadovo patarėjo F. Jansono, cituojant prezidentą: ponas Eugenijus Gentvilas yra sena politinė šiukšlė, kurią rinkėjai kol kas pamiršo pakelti ir išmesti į šiukšlių dėžę.“

On 1 July 2000, Gentvilas was awarded the Lithuanian Independence Medal.

„2000 m. liepos 1 d. – apdovanotas Lietuvos Nepriklausomybės medaliu“

He has also received national honors from France, Norway, and Latvia.

„apdovanotas... Prancūzijos, Norvegijos, Latvijos ordinais.“

He was a laureate of Lithuania’s national competitions for young scientists.

„Yra paskelbęs mokslinių bei publicistinių straipsnių gamtosaugos, Sąjūdžio veiklos, politikos klausimais. Lietuvos jaunųjų mokslininkų konkursų laureatas.“

He has authored approximately 20 scientific publications and 500 journalistic articles on subjects like environmental protection, the Sąjūdis movement, and politics.

„Publications: around 20 academic and 500 journalist articles“

Gentvilas is multilingual, speaking Lithuanian as his native language, as well as English, Russian, and Spanish.

„Kalbos: lietuvių (gimtoji), anglų, rusų, ispanų“