Politics Parliamentary elections in Lithuania underway
Parliamentary elections have begun in Germany's Nato partner country Lithuania. Polls recently pointed to a possible change of government in the Baltic EU state, which borders the Russian Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad and Moscow's wartime ally Belarus. However, many of the approximately 2.4 million eligible voters were still undecided.
13.10.2024, 07:26
SDA
On Sunday, the first of two rounds of voting will decide on the distribution of 70 parliamentary seats according to proportional representation. In two weeks' time, a decision will then be made on the 71 direct mandates in the Seimas, the parliament in Vilnius.
Opposition Social Democrats hope to win the election
According to the polls, the opposition Social Democrats could become the strongest force, while Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte's conservative Fatherland Union, which governs with two liberal parties, recently only came third. Both major parties have largely similar views on foreign and defense policy, advocating a clear Western orientation towards the EU and NATO as well as resolute support for Ukraine in its defensive struggle against Russia. The election campaign therefore focused primarily on domestic and social policy issues.
A total of six political forces are likely to make it into parliament, but no single party seems likely to achieve a majority. The polling stations close at 20:00 local time (19:00 CEST). Meaningful results are expected on Monday night.
Lithuania is particularly exposed in the geopolitical confrontation with Russia due to its location on NATO's eastern flank and sees Moscow's war of aggression against Ukraine as a direct threat to its own security. Germany therefore wants to permanently station a combat-ready brigade of up to 5,000 Bundeswehr soldiers in Lithuania.
