Lithuania's centre-left opposition says it will try to form government


  • World
  • Sunday, 13 Oct 2024

Voters receive ballots at a polling station during early voting in the Lithuanian general elections, in Vilnius, Lithuania, October 8, 2024. REUTERS/Janis Laizans

VILNIUS/PANEVEZYS, Lithuania (Reuters) -Lithuania's centre-left opposition Social Democrats (SD) will attempt to form a majority coalition government together with two other parties following the country's parliamentary election, its leader said on Sunday.

Early results showed SD ahead in the election, which was dominated by concerns over living costs and potential threats from neighbouring Russia.

"I think it will be a coalition with two left parties," Vilija Blinkeviciute told reporters, adding the parties in question were the Farmers and Greens and For Lithuania. "I think it will be a good left coalition."

With 61% of votes counted, SD had 22% support, making it the largest party ahead of the anti-establishment Nemunas Dawn with 17% and the ruling Homeland Union with 15%.

Some 52.1% of the Baltic nation's eligible voters cast a ballot, up from 47.2% four years ago, official data showed.

Blinkeviciute said foreign policy would not change and helping Ukraine remained a priority.

"I think that our voters, our people said that they want some changes," she said, pointing to earnings, housing, healthcare and education as key areas of concern.

Lithuania's centre-right government of Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte saw its popularity eroded by inflation that topped 20% two years ago, as well as by deteriorating public services and a widening gap between rich and poor.

"I got bored with the old government. I want something new," Hendrikas Varkalis, 75, said after casting his vote in Panevezys, about 100 kilometres northwest of the capital Vilnius.

The Baltic state of 2.9 million people has a hybrid voting system in which half of the parliament is elected by popular vote, with a 5% threshold needed to win seats. The other half is chosen on a district basis, a process which favours larger parties.

If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote in a district, its top two candidates face each other in a run-off on Oct. 27.

Domestic issues loomed large in the election campaign, with the SD vowing to tackle increased inequality by raising taxes on wealthier Lithuanians to help fund more spending on healthcare and social spending.

But national security is also a major concern in Lithuania, which is part of the eastern flank of NATO and the European Union and shares a border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad as well as with Belarus, a close Moscow ally.

Three-quarters of Lithuanians believe Russia could attack their country in the near future, a Baltijos Tyrimai/ELTA poll found in May.

The main parties strongly support Ukraine in its war with invading Russian forces and back increased defence spending.

(Reporting by Andrius Sytas in Vilnius and Janis Laizans in Panevezys; Editing by Hugh Lawson, David Holmes and Chris Reese)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Roundup: Europe against new U.S. tariffs, wine, spirits industry concerned
Number of migrants stopped entering US from Canada drops to multi-year low
Weekly storage of natural gas in U.S. decreases: EIA
Mexico cooperating with U.S. but more work needed on drugs, says Rubio
Philippines' Duterte to have first hearing at ICC on Friday
Portugal's president disbands parliament, calls election on May 18
U.S. stocks close lower
U.S. to see significant severe weather into weekend
Ukraine's Zelenskiy says Putin does not want ceasefire
Mexicans hope uncovered mass grave sheds light on missing relatives

Others Also Read