Juozas Tubelis
Encyclopedia
Juozas Tūbelis was a Lithuania
n politician, Prime Minister
and member and chairman of the Lithuanian Nationalists Union
.
In 1908, he graduated from Politechnical Institute in Riga
receiving a diploma in agronomy
. Not being able to find employment in his field, for another two years he worked in Riga as a teacher and then on land exploitation projects. In 1915, he was drafted to the Russian army. He was able to assist Lithuanian Central Relief Committee which helped out refugees and others suffering from war. He traveled across Russia and in 1918 he returned to Lithuania, and worked for the Council of Lithuania
at an education commission.
On November 11, 1918, Tūbelis became Minister of Agriculture and State Treasures. On March 12, 1919 he had to resign from the post but became Minister of Education till June 19, 1920. From May 3, 1927 he was Minister of Finances. He held this position until March 24, 1938. On September 23, 1929 he became the Prime Minister of Lithuania
. He led three Minister Cabinets (the 14th, 15th and 16th) before resigning on March 24, 1938. Tūbelis was the longest standing Prime Minister of Lithuania. From March 1938 until December 5, 1938 he was Minister of Agriculture. He was also directing the Bank of Lithuania
in 1938-1939.
Between political roles, Tūbelis helped to establish and direct large enterprises like Lietūkis (est. in 1923), Maistas (est. in 1925), and Pienocentras (est. in 1926).
After the coup d'état in 1926, his brother-in-law Antanas Smetona
became the president. Since the two men agreed on political views, Tūbelis became the second most powerful man in Lithuania in the 1930s. He is credited for stable economy, national currency litas
, and small foreign debt despite the Great Depression
.
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n politician, Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Lithuania
The Prime Minister of Lithuania is the head of the executive arm of Lithuania's government, and is chosen by the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas. The modern office of Prime Minister was established in 1990, although the official title was "Chairperson of the Council of Ministers" until 25...
and member and chairman of the Lithuanian Nationalists Union
Lithuanian Nationalists Union
The Lithuanian Nationalist Union , also known as the Nationalists , was a nationalist, right-wing political party in Lithuania, founded in 1924 when the Party of National Progress merged with the Lithuanian Farmers' Association. It was the ruling party of Lithuania from the 1926 Lithuanian coup...
.
In 1908, he graduated from Politechnical Institute in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
receiving a diploma in agronomy
Agronomy
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences like biology,...
. Not being able to find employment in his field, for another two years he worked in Riga as a teacher and then on land exploitation projects. In 1915, he was drafted to the Russian army. He was able to assist Lithuanian Central Relief Committee which helped out refugees and others suffering from war. He traveled across Russia and in 1918 he returned to Lithuania, and worked for the Council of Lithuania
Council of Lithuania
The Council of Lithuania , after July 11, 1918 The State Council of Lithuania , was convened at the Vilnius Conference that took place between September 18 and 23, 1917. The council was granted the executive authority of the Lithuanian people and was entrusted to establish an independent...
at an education commission.
On November 11, 1918, Tūbelis became Minister of Agriculture and State Treasures. On March 12, 1919 he had to resign from the post but became Minister of Education till June 19, 1920. From May 3, 1927 he was Minister of Finances. He held this position until March 24, 1938. On September 23, 1929 he became the Prime Minister of Lithuania
Prime Minister of Lithuania
The Prime Minister of Lithuania is the head of the executive arm of Lithuania's government, and is chosen by the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas. The modern office of Prime Minister was established in 1990, although the official title was "Chairperson of the Council of Ministers" until 25...
. He led three Minister Cabinets (the 14th, 15th and 16th) before resigning on March 24, 1938. Tūbelis was the longest standing Prime Minister of Lithuania. From March 1938 until December 5, 1938 he was Minister of Agriculture. He was also directing the Bank of Lithuania
Bank of Lithuania
The Bank of Lithuania is the central bank of the Republic of Lithuania. The Bank of Lithuania is a non-Eurozone member of the European System of Central Banks...
in 1938-1939.
Between political roles, Tūbelis helped to establish and direct large enterprises like Lietūkis (est. in 1923), Maistas (est. in 1925), and Pienocentras (est. in 1926).
After the coup d'état in 1926, his brother-in-law Antanas Smetona
Antanas Smetona
Antanas Smetona was one of the most important Lithuanian political figures between World War I and World War II. He served as the first President of Lithuania from April 4, 1919 to June 19, 1920. He again served as the last President of the country from December 19, 1926 to June 15, 1940, before...
became the president. Since the two men agreed on political views, Tūbelis became the second most powerful man in Lithuania in the 1930s. He is credited for stable economy, national currency litas
Lithuanian litas
The Lithuanian litas is the currency of Lithuania. It is divided into 100 centų...
, and small foreign debt despite the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.