Kubilius was born in Vilnius. After graduation from the 22nd secondary school in Vilnius, Kubilius was accepted to Vilnius University and studied in the Faculty of Physics until 1979. He continued his academic career and postgraduate studies at Vilnius University from 1981 to 1984.[2]
Political career
Career in national politics
Kubilius with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw, 29 April 2009
Kubilius became a member of the pro-independence Sąjūdis movement, who favoured separation from the Soviet Union. He later became the Executive Secretary of the Sąjūdis Council. Soon after the re-establishment of Lithuania's independence, Kubilius was elected to the Seimas (parliament). Since then Kubilius has been an active figure in Lithuanian politics. He became a member of the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats in 1993.[1]
Between 1996 and 1999 Kubilius served as Deputy Speaker of Seimas. After Rolandas Paksas resignation as the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Andrius Kubilius became new Prime Minister. He served up until 2000 parliamentary election.
Kubilius led the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats Party into elections on 28 October 2008. Conservatives defeated the Social Democrats, making Kubilius the main candidate for Prime Minister. On 27 November 2008 Kubilius was officially appointed as Prime Minister of Lithuania. He received 89 votes in favour, 27 against, and 16 members of the Seimas abstained. In 2012 Kubilius became the first prime minister of Lithuania to serve his entire term.[3] His government made a lot of unpopular austerity decisions to counter recession.[4] Despite the unpopularity of austerity, Lithuania made one of strongest economic recoveries in Europe.[5] Kubilius is considered by some being the best Prime Minister of Lithuania modern history.[6]
In addition to his committee assignments, Kubilius is part of the parliament's delegations to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee.[7] He is also a member of the Spinelli Group.[11]
In November 2021, Kubilius joined a group of seven Members of the European Parliament led by Raphaël Glucksmann to Taiwan to send a strong signal in support of the self-ruling island, despite a threat of retaliation from China.[12]
European Commission
In July 2024, Kubilius was nomimated by the Lithuanian government to be his country's EU commissioner. In September 2024, President von der Leyen allocated the Defence and Space portfolio to Kubilius.[13]
Personal life
Kubilius is married to Rasa Kubilienė, a violinist in the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra; the couple have two sons: Andrius Kubilius and Vytautas Kubilius, and three grandchildren.[14] In addition to his native Lithuanian, Kubilius also speaks English and Russian.[1]
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