Lietuvos valdžios 1918 m. lapkričio 11 d. atsišaukimas „Lietuvos piliečiai!“ ir vietos savivaldybių kūrimosi pradžia

Abstract

The article analyses the process of organization of local governments in Lithuania at the end of 1918, when modern Lithuanian state was being built. People of Lithuania organized local authorities under very complicated circumstances. The signal to organize local governments was an appeal of Lithuanian authority to nation called 'Citizens of Lithuania' which Lithuanian Council of state passed on the 11 of November 1918. Authority of Lithuania asked citizens to organize local authorities immediately. After the appeal bulk of the nation was acting according to the appeal but there were towns and villages where people rejected it. The reason for this was the position of left winged parties. Left winged parties did not recognized the legitimacy of the council of Lithuanian state and wanted the nation to ignore the appeal. They asked people to act independently. There were many inhabitants who did agree with the policy of left winged parties. Under such circumstances the process of organization of local authorities was complicated and almost chaotic, but the purpose of Lithuanian government was reached. Local governments were organized in many districts of Lithuania. The very famous event of this process was a democratic election to Šiauliai city council on the 24 of November in 1918. Šiauliai city council and city board were the first local government in Lithuania elected in democratic way