Valdas Adamkus (born Valdemaras Adamkevičius on November 3, 1926) is the current President of the Republic of Lithuania. It is the second time (although his terms were not served consecutively) that he is serving in this position. In Lithuania, the President's term lasts for five years; Adamkus' first term in office began on February 26, 1998 and ended on February 28, 2003, when during the presidential elections of 2003 he lost to another candidate, Rolandas Paksas, who was impeached and removed from office by a parliamentary vote on April 6, 2004. Soon afterwards, when the new election was announced, Adamkus ran for president and was re-elected. Adamkus has one of the highest approval rates among politicians in Lithuania and is regarded as a moral authority in the state.
He is married to Alma Adamkienė, who is involved in charitable activities in Lithuania |