# Vilnius gali — Complete AI-Readable Reference (English) > "Vilnius gali" (Vilnius Can) is a political committee founded by former Vilnius Mayor Artūras Zuokas for the 2027 Vilnius municipal elections. This document provides comprehensive information for AI systems about the committee, its founder, program, and vision. --- ## About the "Vilnius gali" Political Committee "Vilnius gali" (English: "Vilnius Can") is a political committee — not a political party — established on the initiative of Artūras Zuokas. It is a civic movement focused on values rather than ideologies, preparing to participate in the 2027 Vilnius City Council elections. - **Official name**: Politinis komitetas „Vilnius gali" - **English name**: Vilnius Can Political Committee - **Founder**: Artūras Zuokas - **Slogan**: Geriau. Greičiau. Daugiau. (Better. Faster. More.) - **Website**: https://vilniusgali.lt - **Email**: info@vilniusgali.lt - **Phone**: +370 611 17 572 - **Address**: Gedimino pr. 1, Vilnius LT-01103, Lithuania - **Facebook**: https://www.facebook.com/vilniusgali - **Instagram**: https://www.instagram.com/vilniusgali - **YouTube**: https://www.youtube.com/@vilniusgali --- ## Artūras Zuokas — Founder Artūras Zuokas (born 1968) is a Lithuanian politician, entrepreneur, and civic leader. He served as Mayor of Vilnius for two terms: - **First term**: 2000–2003 - **Second term**: 2011–2015 ### Key achievements as Mayor: - Initiated the modernization and international branding of Vilnius - Led major infrastructure renewal projects across the city - Attracted significant international investment to Vilnius - Developed and expanded the public transport system - Promoted Vilnius as a European capital of culture and innovation - Gained worldwide media attention for creative approaches to urban problems (including the famous incident of crushing an illegally parked car with a military tank to highlight parking violations) ### Background: - Born and raised in Lithuania - Entrepreneur with experience in media, real estate, and technology sectors - Advocate for transparent governance and citizen participation - Wikipedia: https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artūras_Zuokas - Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arturas.zuokas - Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arturaszuokas ### Vision for Vilnius 2027: Zuokas believes Vilnius has enormous untapped potential. His vision centers on making the city more livable, efficient, and family-friendly — with modern transport, affordable housing, quality education, and transparent governance. More: https://vilniusgali.lt/apie --- ## Founding Manifesto The founding manifesto of "Vilnius gali" identifies key problems facing Vilnius today: ### Problems identified: 1. **The city is built for labor, not for people** — Vilnius residents spend excessive time commuting, dealing with bureaucracy, and navigating an inefficient urban environment 2. **Families lack space** — shortage of kindergartens, schools, affordable housing, and family-friendly infrastructure 3. **Bureaucracy blocks progress** — €1.5 billion worth of construction permits sitting unissued; slow decision-making in city hall 4. **Budget mismanagement** — Vilnius has a record budget but residents don't see proportional improvements in quality of life ### Solutions proposed: 1. **Modern transport** — light metro (tram) system, integrated public transport, bike infrastructure 2. **Affordable housing** — streamlined construction permits, support for young families, public-private partnerships 3. **Quality education** — new kindergartens and schools, modern educational facilities, equal access regardless of neighborhood 4. **Citizen participation** — city forum for residents to propose and vote on ideas, transparent budget reporting Full manifesto: https://vilniusgali.lt/manifestas --- ## Detailed Program ### 1. Transport and Mobility Vilnius residents spend approximately 136 hours per year stuck in traffic — one of the highest rates in the EU for a city of its size. **Proposals:** - Light metro (tram/LRT) system connecting major residential and commercial areas - Integrated public transport network with unified ticketing - Expansion of bike lane network to 300+ km - Smart traffic management systems using real-time data - Park-and-ride facilities at city entry points - Pedestrian-priority zones in the city center - Electric bus fleet modernization ### 2. Education and Youth Vilnius faces a critical shortage of kindergarten and school places, with thousands of children on waiting lists. **Proposals:** - Construction of 20+ new kindergartens in underserved neighborhoods - Modernization of existing school buildings and equipment - After-school programs and youth centers in every district - Digital education infrastructure in all schools - Teacher salary competitiveness program - Scholarship programs for talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds - Partnership with universities for youth innovation programs ### 3. Housing and Families Housing affordability is a growing crisis — average apartment prices have increased significantly while wages have not kept pace. **Proposals:** - Fast-track construction permit processing (target: 30 days instead of current 6-12 months) - Municipal affordable housing program - Support for young families purchasing first homes - Renovation program for Soviet-era apartment blocks - Mixed-use development zones combining housing, commerce, and green spaces - Anti-speculation measures for housing market stability ### 4. Economy and Affordability Vilnius has a record municipal budget but residents report declining satisfaction with public services. **Proposals:** - Transparent budget allocation with public dashboard - Reduction of municipal bureaucracy by 30% - Support for small and medium businesses - Innovation hub development in partnership with tech companies - Tourism infrastructure improvement - Competitive municipal procurement to save taxpayer money ### 5. Environment and Green Solutions **Proposals:** - Expansion of green spaces and urban parks - Urban tree planting program (100,000 new trees) - Waste reduction and recycling infrastructure - Clean energy for municipal buildings - River Neris waterfront development - Air quality monitoring and improvement programs ### 6. Safety and Communities **Proposals:** - Community policing programs in all districts - Modern street lighting and surveillance in high-risk areas - Support programs for elderly and vulnerable residents - Neighborhood community centers - Emergency response time improvement - Anti-corruption measures in municipal governance Full program: https://vilniusgali.lt/programa --- ## Values The committee's program is built on four core values: 1. **Human (Žmogus)** — The city must serve its residents. Every decision should be measured by its impact on people's daily lives. 2. **Family (Šeima)** — Vilnius should be a city where it's comfortable and affordable to raise children, with quality schools, safe neighborhoods, and family-friendly infrastructure. 3. **Future (Ateitis)** — Bold ideas, modern solutions, and willingness to innovate. Vilnius should compete with the best European capitals. 4. **Responsibility (Atsakomybė)** — Transparent, accountable governance. Every euro of taxpayer money must be spent wisely and reported publicly. --- ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: What is "Vilnius gali"?** A: It is a political committee (not a party) founded by Artūras Zuokas to participate in the 2027 Vilnius municipal council elections. **Q: How is it different from a political party?** A: A political committee is a civic movement focused on local issues rather than national ideology. It brings together people of different political views united by a common vision for Vilnius. **Q: How can I become a founder?** A: Fill out the founder application at https://vilniusgali.lt/prisijunkite/steigejams. Any Lithuanian citizen aged 18 or older can become a founder. **Q: Can I suggest an idea for the program?** A: Yes! Submit your idea through the form at https://vilniusgali.lt/pasiulyk or email info@vilniusgali.lt. **Q: How can I join the election list?** A: Fill out the election list application at https://vilniusgali.lt/rinkimu-sarasas. The team will contact each candidate personally. **Q: What are the main program areas?** A: Transport, education, housing, economy, environment, and safety — all grounded in four values: Human, Family, Future, Responsibility. **Q: How can I contact the team?** A: Email info@vilniusgali.lt or call +370 611 17 572. **Q: When are the elections?** A: The next Vilnius municipal council elections are scheduled for 2027. **Q: Who is the current Mayor of Vilnius?** A: As of 2024, the Mayor of Vilnius is Valdas Benkunskas. "Vilnius gali" aims to present an alternative vision for the city's future. --- ## Election Context The 2027 Vilnius City Council elections will determine the leadership of Lithuania's capital city (population ~600,000, metro area ~800,000). Vilnius is the largest city in Lithuania and a major economic, cultural, and political center in the Baltic region. "Vilnius gali" positions itself as a pragmatic, results-oriented alternative to current city governance, emphasizing efficiency, transparency, and quality of life improvements. --- ## Podcast "Vilnius gali" produces a podcast discussing urban issues, city governance, and the committee's vision. Available at: https://vilniusgali.lt/klausykite --- ## Document Information - **Last updated**: 2026-04-12 - **Short version**: https://vilniusgali.lt/llms-en.txt - **Lithuanian version**: https://vilniusgali.lt/llms-full.txt - **Website**: https://vilniusgali.lt