The Social Democratic Party (LSDP) won the parliamentary elections in Lithuania with 19.36 percent of the vote. The second round of elections will be held on October 27 in the country where a coalition government of leftist parties is expected to be formed. The main opposition LSDP won the first round of the parliamentary elections held yesterday in Lithuania. According to unofficial results, LSDP received 19.36 percent of the votes, while the ruling Fatherland Union-Christian Democrats Party (TS-LKD) received 17.96 percent. The third place went to the Dawn of Nemunas party with 15.99 percent, while a total of 6 parties guaranteed to enter the parliament. LDSP leader Vilija Blinkeviciute told reporters that they will form a coalition government with the Union of Democrats for Lithuania and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union. Blinkeviciute stated that there will be no change in the country’s foreign policy, aid to Ukraine will continue to be the first priority, “However, Lithuanians want changes in domestic policy such as wages, housing problem, health and education system.” It was announced that the turnout in the first round of the elections, in which more than 1,700 candidates competed to enter the 141-seat parliament, was 52.6 percent. The second round of elections will be held on Sunday, October 27 in the country with a total of 2.4 million voters. In Lithuania, which has a population of approximately 3 million, half of the parliament is elected by popular vote and there is a 5 percent threshold. The rest of the parliament is elected from regional candidates. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes in their region, the two candidates with the highest number of votes advance to a second round. – VILNIUS
Source: İHA
