Paulius Saudargas

Paulius Saudargas was born on 13 March 1979 in Kaunas, Lithuania.

„Date of birth | 13 March 1979; Place of birth | Kaunas, Lithuania“

His father is Algirdas Saudargas, a prominent Lithuanian politician, diplomat, and former Member of the European Parliament.

„His father, Algirdas Saudargas — a prominent politician, diplomat and Member of the European Parliament —“

Paulius Saudargas is married to Milda Saudargė and they have three children: sons Einoras and Lukas, and a daughter Viltė.

„Family | Wife Milda, sons Einoras and Lukas, daughter Viltė“

Saudargas is fluent in English, Polish, and Russian, in addition to his native Lithuanian.

„Kalbos: Anglų, Lenkų, Rusų“

In 2007, he earned a Doctor of Physical Sciences (PhD) from Vilnius University.

„2007 | Doctor of Physical Sciences, Vilnius University“

He completed a Master’s degree in Biophysics at Vilnius University in 2003.

„2001–2003 | Master’s in Biophysics, Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University“

He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Physics (Physics Teacher specialization) from Vilnius University in 2001.

„1997–2001 | Bachelor’s in Physics,... Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University“

In 2002, he undertook a professional development course at Vrije University in the Netherlands, and in 2003 another at the Institute of Fundamental Metrology in Denmark.

„2003 – Kvalifikacijos tobulinimo kursai, Fundamentinės metrologijos institutas, Danijos Karalystė; 2002 – Kvalifikacijos tobulinimo kursai, Vrijė universitetas, Nyderlandų Karalystė“

From 1999 to 2000, he worked as a Senior Specialist in the Second Investigation Department under the Ministry of National Defence.

„1999–2000 | Senior Specialist, Second Investigation Department under the Ministry of National Defence“

He worked as an engineer at the Institute of Physics in Vilnius from 2002 to 2007.

„2002–2007 | Engineer, Molecular Physics Laboratory, Institute of Physics“

In 2007, he was a Research Fellow at the Competence Centre of Intermodal Transport and Logistics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University.

„2007 | Research Fellow, Competence Centre of Intermodal Transport and Logistics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University“

During his early career, Saudargas’s earnings were in line with Lithuania’s relatively low public-sector salaries of the time. As a research engineer in the mid-2000s, his monthly pay would have been only a few hundred euros (for context, the average net wage in 2008 was about 1,650 LTL – roughly €480 ). This underscores that his pre-political income was modest.

„Vidutinis mėnesinis neto darbo užmokestis... pirmąjį 2008 m. ketvirtį sudarė 1650,6 Lt (≈480 € net per month).“

He served as a member of the 11th Seimas from 2012 to 2016.

„2012–2016 | Member of the 11th Seimas“

Saudargas served as Deputy Speaker of the Seimas (Parliament) from 17 November 2020 to 15 July 2024.

„11/17/2020 - 07/15/2024 |... Deputy Speaker“

He was a member of the 10th Seimas, serving in Parliament during the 2008–2012 term.

„2008–2012 | Member of the 10th Seimas“

He was a member of the 12th Seimas, serving from 2016 to 2020.

„2016–2020 | Member of the 12th Seimas“

He was a member of the 13th Seimas from 2020 until 2024, when he left mid-term to assume a position in the European Parliament.

„Member of the Seimas from 11/13/2020 till 07/15/2024... Seimo nario įgaliojimai nutrūks nuo liepos 16 dienos“

Since 2024 he has been serving as a Member of the European Parliament (10th parliamentary term), aligned with the European People’s Party group.

„16-07-2024... Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) - Member“

Saudargas has been a member of the Lithuanian Christian Democrats (LKD) party since the year 2000.

„Since 2000 | Member, Lithuanian Christian Democrats political party“

He served as the Executive Secretary of the Lithuanian Christian Democrats party from 2007 to 2008.

„2007–2008 | Executive Secretary, Lithuanian Christian Democrats political party“

In 2008, he was the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrat party (TS-LKD).

„2008 | Deputy Executive Secretary, Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats“

He became a member of the TS-LKD party’s Presidium (governing board) in 2009 and has served on it since then.

„Since 2009 | Member of the Presidium, Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats“

In October 2019, he was elected as the Chairman of the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) Christian Democrat community (party’s LKD wing).

„LKD Pirmininku konferencijoje išrinktas Seimo narys Paulius Saudargas“

By 2023, Saudargas was serving as a Vice Chairman of the TS-LKD (Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats) party.

„Seimo pirmininkės pavaduotojas, Tėvynės sąjungos-Lietuvos krikščionių demokratų partijos vicepirmininkas Paulius Saudargas“

In March 2025, he was appointed as the First Deputy Chairman of the TS-LKD party under the new party leader Laurynas Kasčiūnas.

„Partijos pirmininko Lauryno Kasčiūno pirmuoju pavaduotoju buvo paskirtas europarlamentaras Paulius Saudargas.“

In 2017, Saudargas ran in the TS-LKD (Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats) leadership primaries as the candidate of the party’s Christian Democrat wing, but ultimately lost to Gabrielius Landsbergis.

„In 2017, when TS-LKD held internal primaries for the party’s leader, it was Saudargas, the leader of the Christian Democrat wing of the Conservative party, who threw gauntlet, to no success however, against Landsbergis junior.“

From 2012 to 2016, he served as Deputy Chair of the Seimas Committee on Environment Protection.

„2012–2016 |... | Deputy Chair, Committee on Environment Protection“

He was the Chair of the Seimas Commission for the Traditions and Heritage of Lithuanian Studies from January 2021 until July 2024.

„01/15/2021 - 07/15/2024 |... Commission for the Traditions and Heritage of Lithuanian Studies, Chair“

During the 2008–2012 term, he chaired the Commission of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and the Lithuanian World Community (a commission for diaspora affairs).

„Chair, Commission of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and the Lithuanian World Community“

He headed the Seimas delegation to the Baltic Assembly during his 2008–2012 parliamentary term.

„Head, Seimas Delegation to the Baltic Assembly“

In the 2020–2024 term, Saudargas was a member of the Seimas Committee on Economics.

„11/19/2020 - 07/15/2024 |... Committee on Economics, Member“

Since becoming an MEP in 2024, he has been a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), and a substitute member of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO).

„Paulius Saudargas, … member of two EP Committees, the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and substitutive member of EP Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO)“

He served as a member of the Seimas Energy Commission (2016–2019) and continued as a member of its successor, the Energy and Sustainable Development Commission, from 2019 until 2024.

„2019-01-16 – 2020-11-13 | Energetikos ir darnios plėtros komisija, Komisijos narys; 2016-11-22 – 2019-01-15 | Energetikos komisija, Komisijos narys“

He was a member of the Seimas commission responsible for awarding the Aleksandras Stulginskis Star from March 2021 until July 2024.

„2021-03-10 – 2024-07-15 | Aleksandro Stulginskio žvaigžės skyrimo komisija, Komisijos narys“

In the 2020 parliamentary elections, Saudargas was elected to the Seimas in the single-member Justiniškių–Viršuliškių constituency (No. 7) in Vilnius.

„P. Saudargas į Seimą 2020 metais buvo išrinktas vienmandatėje Justiniškių-Viršuliškių apygardoje.“

Saudargas first entered the Seimas in 2008 via the TS-LKD party list. In subsequent elections, he consistently won the Vilnius Justiniškių-based single-member constituency. He was elected as the MP for Justiniškių (No. 7) in 2012 and re-elected there in 2016. After constituency boundaries were adjusted, he again won the corresponding Justiniškių–Viršuliškių seat in 2020. In the 2020 election’s first round, Saudargas led with 29.5% of the vote, and he secured victory in the runoff.

„Elected: Justiniškių–Viršuliškių (No: 7) in the electoral constituency … Elected to the Seimas 2016–2020 … Elected to the Seimas 2012–2016. 7. Justiniškių–Viršuliškių – TS-LKD kandidatas Paulius Saudargas – 29,49 proc. balsų.“

In the 2008 parliamentary elections, Saudargas was ranked 7th on the Homeland Union–Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) candidate list. After the tally of preference votes, he shifted to 9th place on the list – still well within the party’s winning seats (TS-LKD secured a total of 44 mandates that year ), which ensured his entry into the Seimas as a new MP at age 29.

„Seimo narys Audronius Ažubalis iš 9-os pakilo į 6-ą … Paulius Saudargas – iš 7-os į 9-ą. (Tėvynės sąjunga – Lietuvos krikščionys demokratai laimėjo didžiausią mandatų skaičių – 44.)“

As Deputy Speaker of the Seimas (2020–2024), Saudargas had a monthly salary of approximately €3,000 gross (about €1,900 net). In 2018, Seimas Deputy Speakers’ official base pay was €2,968 before taxes, a figure that remained in the same range during Saudargas’s tenure.

„Seimo pirmininko pavaduotojai... Jų visų pareiginės algos siekia 2968 eurus.“

Since mid-2024, as a Member of the European Parliament, Saudargas earns a standard MEP salary of roughly €9,000 per month (gross), which is a little over €7,000 “take-home” after EU taxes. This salary is adjusted annually for inflation.

„Kas mėnesį politikai uždirba 9000 eurų popieriuje viršijantį atlyginimą – kiek daugiau nei 7000 eurų į rankas.“

As a rank-and-file Seimas member, Saudargas’s base salary was about €2,570 gross per month in the late 2010s. (Seimas members’ pay is determined by a coefficient tied to the civil service wage base.) This would equate to roughly €1,600 per month after taxes.

„Paprasto Seimo nario pareiginė alga šiuo metu siekia 2570,50 eurų popieriuje.“

Saudargas has not been listed among the wealthiest Lithuanian politicians. In 2022, six Seimas members declared personal assets well above €800,000, but Saudargas’s declared assets fell below this threshold. His asset disclosures indicate modest wealth, with no million-euro holdings or large liabilities.

„Tarp turtingiausių parlamentarų patenka… Kazys Starkevičius, kurio turtas 2022 metais įvertintas beveik 981 tūkst. eurų… Į 200 turtingiausių Lietuvos žmonių sąrašą patenka ir Seimo narys Remigijus Žemaitaitis… 2022 metais R. Žemaitaičio asmeninio turto vertė siekė per 800 tūkst. eurų.“

Saudargas’s wealth has grown gradually in line with his public service career, with no abrupt or unexplained jumps. His financial disclosures over the last ten years have remained stable, reflecting his public-sector income and personal assets; no irregular surges in net worth have been reported in the media.

„Valstybinei mokesčių inspekcijai paskelbus naujas (2019 m.) turto deklaracijas, paaiškėjo, kad šiuo metu Seime yra penki milijonieriai. (Saudargas is not among these, indicating a more modest declaration.)“

According to his 2024 European Parliament candidate disclosure, Saudargas had an annual income of €57,060 and accumulated assets totaling €321,547 at that time.

„Metinės pajamos: 57 060 €; Sukauptas turtas: 321 547 €“

Over the past decade, Saudargas’s declared wealth has grown steadily but remained modest. He has never been listed among the very wealthiest Lithuanian politicians – for instance, in 2019 only five Seimas members declared assets exceeding €800,000 (Saudargas was not among them). By mid-2024, his net worth was roughly €320,000, reflecting gradual accumulation from public-sector income with no sudden windfalls.

„Valstybinei mokesčių inspekcijai paskelbus naujas (2019 m.) turto deklaracijas, paaiškėjo, kad šiuo metu Seime yra penki milijonieriai. (Saudargas is not among them.) … Sukauptas turtas: 321 547 €.“

Saudargas is a member of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union, having joined the organization in 2015.

„Member, Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union (since 2015)“

He was the Chairman of the non-governmental organization “Už pilietinę visuomenę” (For Civil Society) from 2005 to 2008, and remains a member of this NGO.

„Chairman (2005–2008), Member (since 2008), NGO Už pilietinę visuomenę“

Early in his career, he was active in youth organisations; Saudargas served on the board of the Young Christian Democrats in 2004–2005, and was a board member of the Lithuanian Youth Council (LiJOT) from 2005 to 2007 (chairing its Ethics Committee).

„Member of the Board, NGO Jaunieji krikščionys demokratai (2004–2005); Member of the Board, Chairman of the Committee on Ethics (2005–2007), Council of Lithuanian Youth Organisations“

Saudargas faced criticism in 2009 for supporting Lithuania’s controversial “Law on the Protection of Minors against the Negative Impact of Public Information”. The law was condemned by the European Parliament as discriminatory, but Saudargas defended it by asserting that “Europe will not dictate its terms to us” on national moral issues.

„Seimas … priėmė Europos Parlamento (EP) pasipiktinimą sukėlusį Nepilnamečių apsaugos nuo neigiamos viešosios informacijos poveikio įstatymą … ‘Europa … nediktuos mums savo sąlygų’“

In March 2023, as a Seimas member, he introduced a bill to criminalize “contempt of religious beliefs” in places of worship (disrespectful acts in churches). The proposal passed its first reading but drew criticism from both opposition and some coalition MPs, with comparisons to Russia’s imprisonment of the punk band Pussy Riot.

„A conservative MP has proposed criminal liability for “disrespectful behaviour” in churches. The bill has passed the first reading, while critics compare it to the notorious Pussy Riot case in Russia. … The author of the bill is MP Paulius Saudargas“

In May 2021, Saudargas publicly voiced opposition to a proposed civil partnership law (aimed at legally recognizing same-sex unions). He argued that the concept of family should remain founded on a “natural complementarity of the sexes” and that any redefinition must be decided by society via referendum.

„Mes, besilaikantys požiūrio, jog šeimos sampratos pagrindas yra prigimtinis lyčių papildomumas... nepritariame partnerystės instituto įteisinimui Lietuvoje“

Paulius Saudargas is a co-author of the books “Gulago partizanai” and “Kalinio riba,” which are based on historical themes.

„Co-author of several scientific publications and books Gulago partizanai and Kalinio riba“