Lithuanian opposition parties reached an agreement to back each other’s candidates in the parliamentary run-offs on October 27, wherever they are competing against conservative rivals, the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania–Christian Families Alliance (LLRA-KSS) announced in a statement on its website.
This move is aimed at consolidating opposition strength in the face of the ruling conservative Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD). A total of 63 MPs will be elected from single-member constituencies in this second round.
As reported by bne IntelliNews, in the first round, the LSDP secured 19.36% of the vote, winning 18 of the 70 seats contested through the nationwide party list and hinting at a coalition with LVZS and the Democratic Union “For Lithuania”.
The Homeland Union came in second with 17.96% of the vote, securing 17 seats. The Dawn of the Nemunas Party received 14.99% of the vote, earning 14 seats. The Democratic Union “For Lithuania” obtained 9.24% of the vote and eight seats, while the LVZS garnered 7.02% and six seats.
MP Rita Tamasiuniene from the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania–Christian Families Alliance (LLRA-KSS), announced the agreement at a press conference, highlighting the opposition’s unity. ” in those constituencies where we compete with conservatives, we are uniting and striving for the candidates who belong to the above-mentioned parties to win. We support these representatives. In all constituencies, we are counting on competition and rivalry in the spirit of respect, as it should be in a democratic state,” she said according to the party statement.
Other opposition parties present at the media conference included the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), the Dawn of the Nemunas Party, the Democratic Union “For Lithuania,” and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVZS).
Asta Kubilienė of LVZS slammed the record of the current government, telling the press conference that under its rule, “what had been built for decades was destroyed”.
“That is why I am calling on everyone to come and say “no” to the government and say “yes” to Lithuanian statehood,” Kubilienė added.
The LSDP and LVZS have already committed to mutual support in the run-offs, and the Social Democrats have similarly allied with the Democratic Union “For Lithuania”.
The Dawn of the Nemunas Party had previously declared that they would not support candidates from the TS-LKD, the Liberal Movement, or the Freedom Party in the second round, LRT.lt reported.