Lithuanian Social Democrats secure the lead. Coalitions awaited
Sunday's parliamentary elections were won by the current opposition, supported by one in five voters. The second round will determine the final seat distribution.
14 October 2024 08:03
In the first round of the Lithuanian parliamentary elections, the Opposition Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) won, securing over 19 per cent of the votes and 18 seats in the 141-seat Seimas. The group, led by MEP Vilija Blinkevicziute, will now form a government.
Following the LSDP, with 17.9 percent of the votes and 17 seats, were the co-governing Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats, led by Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. The third place was secured by Remigijus Žemaitaitis's new political movement, Dawn, over the Neman, gaining 14.9 percent of the votes and 14 seats.
Elections in Lithuania: the country will not change its foreign policy
Other parties also exceeded the five percent electoral threshold. These include the Union "For Lithuania" led by Saulius Skvernelis (9.24 percent of the votes, 8 seats), the Liberal Movement led by the current Speaker of the Seimas, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen (7.7 percent of the votes, 7 seats), and the Farmers and Greens Union led by Ramūnas Karbauskis (7.2 percent of the votes, 6 seats).
The final power distribution in the new Lithuanian Seimas will be known after the second round of elections, which will be held on 27th October. This vote will be decided in 63 single-member districts, where no winner was determined in the first round.
According to PAP, the Lithuanian electoral system combines the majority method in 71 single-member districts with proportional representation in one multi-member district. Candidates with the most votes win, provided they meet the election participation requirements.
The Social Democrats will have to seek coalition partners to form a government. Reuters, commenting on the results of the Lithuanian elections, notes that if Blinkeviciute manages to form a government, Lithuania is unlikely to change its foreign policy - especially concerning Russia's imperial policies and support for Ukraine.
Lithuanians wanted changes, but mainly in domestic issues such as wages, housing, the state of healthcare, and the education system. As Reuters's analysis pointed out, voters were also tired of the deteriorating quality of public services and the growing gap between the rich and the poor.
Data from the Central Electoral Commission shows that 52 percent of Lithuanian voters participated in the elections. 11.75 percent of citizens participated in early voting, and 40.31 percent voted on election day.
