Lithuania is witnessing a significant political event on Sunday as nearly 2.4 million registered voters head to the polls to elect the country’s next president for a five-year term. Alongside the presidential vote, a referendum is being held on whether people can hold multiple nationalities.
Security concerns have taken center stage in the presidential election, with all major candidates advocating for increased defense spending amid fears of potential aggression from Moscow. Throughout their campaigns, candidates have echoed similar sentiments, warning that Lithuania and other Baltic states could be targets of Russian aggression.
Eight candidates are competing for the presidency, with recent polls indicating that incumbent President Gitanas Nauseda, known for his moderate conservative stance and strong support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, leads the race. However, with a crowded field, it’s unlikely that any candidate will secure the necessary 50% of votes to win outright, necessitating a runoff in two weeks.
Nauseda faces stiff competition from populist lawyer Ignas Vegele and incumbent Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte. Simonyte, a former finance minister, previously contested the presidency in 2019 but assumed the role of prime minister in 2020. Vegele, known for his populist stance, gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic by criticizing the government’s handling of lockdown and vaccination measures.
According to recent polling data, Nauseda enjoys 29% of voter support, with Simonyte trailing at 14%. The president of Lithuania holds key responsibilities in foreign and security policies, serving as the supreme commander of the armed forces.
Polling stations are scheduled to close at 8 p.m. local time (1700GMT), with results anticipated later in the night. In the event that no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election is expected to take place on May 26.
