Šarūnas Birutis (born September 20, 1961, in Šiauliai) is a Lithuanian politician. He was the Lithuanian minister of culture in the Gintautas Paluckas-led government since 2024. He earlier served as a member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009, and was part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.
Early life
Šarūnas Birutis was born on 20 September 1961 in Šiauliai in Šiauliai county. He completed his schooling from J. Janonis Secondary School in Šiauliai in 1979. In 1984, he received a bachelor's degree in economics from Vilnius University. In 2003, he obtained a master's degree in law from Law University of Lithuania in 2003.
Career
Business
While studying for his degree in economics, he worked in the finance division in the state academic drama theatre from 1982 to 1984. After his studies, he was employed by the Kaunas Combined Heat and Power Plant in the planning division in 1984. In 1986, he joined the administration of Kaunas city committee in a finance supervisory role. After working there till 1990, he ventured into private business, and established the Lithuanian Writers Union Publishing House. During the time, he also worked on establishing the tourism industry in Lithuania.
Politics
In 1999, Birutis joined the Ministry of Economy as the head of the small and medium business division. He served as the representative of the Lithuanian Union of Industrial Employers from 2002 to 2003. He was appointed as the ember of the State Commission on Gambling Supervision by the prime minister in 2003.
Birutis served as a member of the Vilnius City Council from 2011 to 2012. He was a member of the Committees on foreign affairs, European affairs, human rights, and anti-corruption. and was re-appointed as the minister of culture.
On 9 June 2025, Minister Birutis announced that the Lithuanian government intends to allocate funds in the next fiscal year for the relocation of Soviet-era soldier remains currently situated in city centers, pending approval of formal procedures and budget inclusion.