Tapinas and Kojala top survey of Lithuania’s influential public figures

Andrius Tapinas and political scientist Linas Kojala are considered Lithuania’s most influential public figures by the country’s public and elite, according to survey results reported by LRT and published by Delfi.

Tapinas, founder of Laisvės TV and a television host, has held the top spot in the ranking for several years. Blogger and commentator Skirmantas Malinauskas ranks third in the combined list.

The rest of the top 10 are Jonas Ohmanas, head of the Blue/Yellow organization; priest Ričardas Doveika; historian Alfredas Bumblauskas; lawyer Egidijus Kūris; Arūnas Gelūnas, director-general of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art; communications specialist Karolis Žukauskas; and opera singer Asmik Grigorian.

In the elite survey, Vilnius Archbishop Gintaras Grušas also made the top 10, while Grigorian did not. The public survey’s top 10 included director and choreographer Anželika Cholina, opera and theatre director Dalia Ibelhauptaitė, military affairs expert Darius Antanaitis, and actor and director Rolandas Kazlas. Kūris, Gelūnas, Žukauskas and Grigorian did not make the public’s top 10.

Market and public opinion research company Spinter Tyrimai surveyed 1,017 people aged 18 to 75 across Lithuania from July 18 to 25. Reitingai magazine conducted the expert survey for Delfi, questioning 1,143 people from July 9 to September 1.

The surveys defined influential people as those with the greatest positive or negative effect on Lithuania’s development, society and decision-makers.