Lithuanians vote on Sunday in a presidential election expected to hand a new term to incumbent Gitanas Nauseda, a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its two-year war with Russia, following a campaign focusing on security concerns in the Baltic states.
The polls close at 8 p.m. local time (1700 GMT), with results expected after midnight. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the votes—a scenario that is likely according to opinion surveys—a run-off vote will be held on May 26.
Nauseda, 59, a former senior economist at a leading bank, has the support of 29% of voters, according to a recent Delfi/Spinter Tyrimai poll. His strongest challenger is Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, 49, the only woman in the race, with 14% support.
Across the region, voters are concerned that the former Soviet republics, which constitute the Baltics and are now members of both the NATO military alliance and the European Union, could potentially be targets of future Russian aggression.
Just over half of Lithuanians believe a Russian attack is possible or even very likely, according to a poll conducted by ELTA/Baltijos Tyrimai. Lithuanian intelligence reported in March that Russia was on track to bolster its military capabilities along its border with NATO. Moscow has consistently dismissed Western suggestions that it might contemplate an attack on a NATO member as nonsense.
Nauseda, 59, a former senior economist at a leading bank, has the support of 29% of voters, according to a recent Delfi/Spinter Tyrimai poll. His strongest challenger is Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, 49, the only woman in the race, with 14% support.
Across the region, voters are concerned that the former Soviet republics, which constitute the Baltics and are now members of both the NATO military alliance and the European Union, could potentially be targets of future Russian aggression.
Just over half of Lithuanians believe a Russian attack is possible or even very likely, according to a poll conducted by ELTA/Baltijos Tyrimai. Lithuanian intelligence reported in March that Russia was on track to bolster its military capabilities along its border with NATO. Moscow has consistently dismissed Western suggestions that it might contemplate an attack on a NATO member as nonsense.
Presidential candidates
The relationship with Poland has emerged as a significant aspect of foreign policy in the upcoming Lithuanian presidential elections. During the pre-election debates, almost all candidates, including the incumbent President Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, listed Poland among the three most important partners and friends of Lithuania. Most candidates also indicated Warsaw as the first capital that the president would visit after winning the elections.
Most of the candidates running in Sunday’s election, including Simonyte and Nauseda, have told the national broadcaster they both keep food stockpiles at home ready in case of a military conflict.
“I am doing all I can to make sure it will not be needed,” Nauseda said during a televised debate.
Both Nauseda and Simonyte support increasing defense spending to at least 3% of Lithuania’s gross domestic product, from the 2.75% planned for this year, to pay for the modernisation of its army and infrastructure to support a brigade of German troops, and their families, that will be deployed in Lithuania and combat-ready from 2027.
While agreeing on Russia policy, the two top candidates differ on issues such as same-sex civil partnerships, which Nauseda opposes, and have a history of acrimonious bickering and refusing to speak to each other.
Lithuania’s president has a semi-executive role, which includes heading the armed forces and chairing the supreme defense and national security policy body, and represents the country at the European Union and NATO summits.
In tandem with the government, the president sets foreign and security policy, can veto laws and has a say in the appointment of key officials such as judges, the chief prosecutor, the chief of defense and head of the central bank.
In 2019, Nauseda won a presidential election run-off against Simonyte, a former finance minister, with 66% of votes.
Simonyte is also facing a tough test in a general election this October, as government parties trail in the polls.
In conclusion, the upcoming Lithuanian presidential elections underscore the importance of Poland as a key ally in Lithuania’s foreign policy, reflecting the deep-rooted ties and shared strategic interests between the two countries.
The relationship with Poland has emerged as a significant aspect of foreign policy in the upcoming Lithuanian presidential elections. During the pre-election debates, almost all candidates, including the incumbent President Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, listed Poland among the three most important partners and friends of Lithuania. Most candidates also indicated Warsaw as the first capital that the president would visit after winning the elections.
Most of the candidates running in Sunday’s election, including Simonyte and Nauseda, have told the national broadcaster they both keep food stockpiles at home ready in case of a military conflict.
“I am doing all I can to make sure it will not be needed,” Nauseda said during a televised debate.
Both Nauseda and Simonyte support increasing defense spending to at least 3% of Lithuania’s gross domestic product, from the 2.75% planned for this year, to pay for the modernisation of its army and infrastructure to support a brigade of German troops, and their families, that will be deployed in Lithuania and combat-ready from 2027.
While agreeing on Russia policy, the two top candidates differ on issues such as same-sex civil partnerships, which Nauseda opposes, and have a history of acrimonious bickering and refusing to speak to each other.
Lithuania’s president has a semi-executive role, which includes heading the armed forces and chairing the supreme defense and national security policy body, and represents the country at the European Union and NATO summits.
In tandem with the government, the president sets foreign and security policy, can veto laws and has a say in the appointment of key officials such as judges, the chief prosecutor, the chief of defense and head of the central bank.
In 2019, Nauseda won a presidential election run-off against Simonyte, a former finance minister, with 66% of votes.
Simonyte is also facing a tough test in a general election this October, as government parties trail in the polls.
In conclusion, the upcoming Lithuanian presidential elections underscore the importance of Poland as a key ally in Lithuania’s foreign policy, reflecting the deep-rooted ties and shared strategic interests between the two countries.
Source: Reuters/Pap
More In Politics MORE...
