Liberal Movement nominates Artūras Trušas for Klaipėda mayor

The Liberal Movement’s Klaipėda branch has selected maritime recruitment entrepreneur Artūras Trušas as its candidate for mayor in next year’s municipal elections, the party announced on Thursday.

In its statement, the Liberal Movement emphasised retaining and attracting young professionals and businesses to Klaipėda as a key priority, framing the city as a place “where talent and future leaders can grow.”

“If we want people not to leave but to return, we must build a city where life is good—not sometime in the future, but now. The city needs a mayor unafraid to be among the people, to ask and to engage,” Trušas was quoted as saying.

The party positioned the 42-year-old Trušas—a native of Klaipėda—as an alternative to “tired political veterans” or “another city administrator,” describing him as “a fresh, sharp, and energetic person who sees the city not just through office windows but in the streets, in businesses, communities, schools, families, and future ideas.”

Trušas holds a bachelor’s in transport engineering from the Lithuanian Maritime College and a master’s in business management from Klaipėda University. In 2013, he founded OJ Crew, a maritime recruitment firm where he continues to serve as director.

Current mayor Arvydas Vaitkus, a former head of the Port of Klaipėda, won his post in 2023 with over 61% of the runoff vote, defeating conservative rival Audrius Petrošiūs. The next municipal elections are scheduled for February or March 2027.