The opposition Social Democracy (SD) became the winner of the parliamentary elections in Lithuania. This follows from the results after counting 99 percent of the votes cast in Sunday’s second round of voting.
Photo: SITA/AP, Mindaugas Kulbis
Social Democratic Party leader Vilija Blinkevičiuté speaks to the media while waiting for the results of the second round of Lithuanian parliamentary elections at her office in Vilnius, Sunday, October 27, 2024.
The Social Democrats win a total of 52 mandates in the 141-member parliament, the previous ruling party, the conservative Patriotic Union of Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytejová, 28 parliamentary seats. The Prime Minister’s group has accepted defeat, press agencies inform.
“I am very grateful to the people of Lithuania for voting so actively for us,” said the president of the SD and current MEP Vilija Blinkevičiutéová. “The election results showed that people in Lithuania, whether they live in big cities, towns or villages, want and need a completely new government,” DPA quoted her as saying.
The Social Democrats plan to form a government coalition with two smaller parties, the Democratic Union “For Lithuania” and the Union of Lithuanian Peasants and Greens.
The head of the Patriotic Union and head of Lithuanian diplomacy Gabrielius Landsbergis recognized the defeat of his party. He said he hoped the Social Democrats would form a responsible government.
The DPA agency writes that the new populist party Úsvit Nemenu, several small parties and independent candidates will also be in the new parliament. About 41 percent of eligible voters came to vote.
In Lithuania, an EU and NATO member country with a population of 2.9 million, 70 out of 141 deputies are elected to the unicameral parliament proportionally and 71 by majority. If a candidate does not win a majority in the majority voting in single-mandate constituencies, a second round is held. The first round of elections took place two weeks ago.
A possible future government led by the Social Democrats is expected to maintain a tough stance on Russia as well as higher defense figures, which will reach about three percent of gross domestic product (GDP) this year. The North Atlantic Alliance, of which Lithuania is a member, asks its members to spend at least two percent of GDP on defense.
Reuters reported that the position of Prime Minister Šimonyté’s coalition government was significantly weakened by inflation, which rose to over 20 percent the year before last, deteriorating public service and a widening gap between the rich and the poor.
In proportion to their GDP, the Baltic states, including Lithuania, are among the countries that support Ukraine the most. It has been resisting the Russian military invasion for the third year. According to a survey from this spring, three quarters of Lithuanians think that Russia could invade their country in the near future.
Source: spravy.pravda.sk
