The President of the Republic of Lithuania serves as the country's head of state and primary representative in international relations. Directly elected for a five-year term, the president exercises executive authority alongside the government, leading foreign and security policy as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and appointing senior officials. The office was established on April 4, 1919, with Antanas Smetona serving as the first president, and was officially restored following the re-establishment of Lithuanian independence in 1990.