The opposition Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) announced the victory in the parliamentary elections on Sunday evening. He was congratulated on his victory by the leader of the conservatives, who was co-leader until then, Gabrielius Landsbergis. – This is a good result, and I wish that they will form a responsible government, – the head of the Lithuanian Democratic Christian Group (TS-LKD) Landsbergis told journalists.
The Parliament of Lithuania has 141 deputies. Deputies are elected according to the mixed system: 71 people are elected in single-mandate electoral districts according to the majority system and 70 people are elected in a multi-mandate electoral district according to the proportional system.
On Sunday, the second round of elections was held in 63 constituencies, where none of the candidates could get the necessary support. LSDP fought for 37 seats. They are leading or have already won in 30 single districts.
An election officer waits for people at the polling station during the second round of parliamentary elections in PasvalePA/VALDA KALNINA
The conservative “Itifok Vatani” – the party of Christian Democrats of Lithuania fought for 33 seats (it already has 17 seats), the new populist party Švit nad Niemnem – for 13 seats (it already has 14 seats), the democratic union “In the Name of Lithuania”. will fight for 10 seats (it already has eight). Union of Farmers and Vegetables, which has six seats, will fight for another nine seats in single-mandate constituencies.
Voters look at candidate posters during the second round of parliamentary elections in PasvalEPA/VALDA KALNINA
There are also individual people from specific groups in the game. The election campaign of Poles in Lithuania – Union of Christian Families (AWPL-ZChR), which in the first round did not exceed the required threshold of 5%, but won two mandates in single-member constituencies, is participating in the elections for three more seats. second round. Edita Tamosziunaite, Czeslaw Olszewski and Waldemar Urban are fighting for it.
People voted in the second round of parliamentary elections in PanevezysEPA/VALDA KALNINA
78 seats were distributed in the first round
In the first round of elections, which was held on October 13, the party led by MP Vilia Blinkevichite won more than 19 percent in the multi-mandate constituencies. votes and 18 seats in the 141-seat Seimas.
Willy Blinkevichite Reuters
Conservatives of the co-conservatives – “Vatany Union” – the party of Christian Democrats of Lithuania headed by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis – received 17.9 percent of votes. vote and 17 mandates. In third place is the new party of Remijius Jemaitaitis Švit nad Niemnem – 14.9 percent. and 14 places.
The necessary threshold of 5% of the election was crossed by the Union “In the name of Lithuania” led by Saulius Skvernelis (9.24% and 8 seats) and the Liberal Movement led by the current Speaker of the Seimas Victoria Czmilite-Nilsen (7.7%). and 7 mandates) and the union of farmers and greengrocers of Ramunas Karbauskis (7.2 percent and 6 mandates).
The electoral campaign of the Poles in Lithuania – Union of Christian Families headed by MP Waldemar Tomaszewski did not exceed the required threshold of 5%. However, this party managed to win two seats in the constituencies of one mandate in the first round. Yaroslav Narkevich won 46.75% in Shalcininkai-Vilnius district. support and Rita Tamaszuniene in Nimenczynskyi electoral district – 43.34 percent.
In the first round, two other Poles – Tomas Tomilinas, who has been a representative of the democratic union “In the name of Lithuania” for a long time, and Robert Puchowicz from the new party Shvit nad Niemnem won seats.
Search for coalition partners
The Social Democratic Party, the association “In the name of Lithuania” and the Union of Farmers and Vegetables have already reached a preliminary agreement on cooperation in forming a coalition. Observers of the Lithuanian political scene emphasize that no matter how the forces are finally distributed, there will be no change in the state policy, especially in the context of imperial Russian policy and support for the invaded Ukraine.
Electoral station of PanevezisEPA/VALDA KALNINA
Vilja Blinkeviciute emphasized that aid to Ukraine remains a priority. His success, as he emphasized after the closing of the polls, is that Lithuanians want to demand changes, but in internal issues – such as wages, housing, health conditions and the education system.
They were fed up with high inflation
The popularity of the right-wing government, which ruled Lithuania until the election, fell after the country's inflation rate exceeded 20 percent two years ago. Voters, as the Reuters agency notes in its analysis, were also fed up with the deterioration of the quality of public services and the growing gap between the rich and the poor.
During the election campaign, the Social Democratic Party promised to address growing inequality by raising taxes on Lithuania's wealthy. In this way, the winning party wants to get more money in the budget for the operation of health services and social benefits.
Safety issue
All major political parties strongly support Ukraine in its fight against Russian military aggression and support increased defense spending.
The Reuters news agency emphasizes that the issue of security was very important in this year's parliamentary elections. A poll by Baltijos Tyrimai/ELTA in May of this year shows that three quarters of Lithuanians believe that Russia may attack their country in the near future.
Main photo: EPA/VALDA KALNINA
