By Andrius Sytas
VILNIUS (Reuters) – Lithuanians vote on Sunday in a presidential election anticipated handy a brand new time period to incumbent Gitanas Nauseda, a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its two-year conflict with Russia, following a marketing campaign specializing in safety issues within the Baltic states.
Polls shut at 8 p.m. native time (1700 GMT), with outcomes anticipated after midnight. If no candidate wins greater than 50% – which is probably going based on opinion surveys – a run-off vote shall be held on Might 26.
Nauseda, 59, a former senior economist at a prime financial institution, has the assist of 29% of voters, a latest Delfi/Spinter Tyrimai ballot confirmed. His strongest challenger is Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, 49, the one girl working, with 14% of assist.
Throughout the area, voters are frightened the previous Soviet republics that make up the Baltics, now members of the NATO army alliance and the European Union, could possibly be the targets of Russian aggression sooner or later.
Simply over half of Lithuanians imagine a Russian assault is feasible and even very seemingly, a ELTA/Baltijos Tyrimai ballot has discovered. Lithuanian intelligence mentioned in March Russia was on observe to strengthen its army capabilities alongside its border with at NATO. Moscow has usually dismissed Western solutions that it’d take into account an assault on a NATO member as nonsense.
FOOD STOCKPILES
Many of the candidates working in Sunday’s election, together with Simonyte and Nauseda, have informed the nationwide broadcaster they each preserve meals stockpiles at house prepared in case of a army battle.
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“I’m doing all I can to verify it won’t be wanted,” Nauseda mentioned throughout a televised debate.
Each Nauseda and Simonyte assist growing defence spending to at the least 3% of Lithuania’s gross home product, from the two.75% deliberate for this 12 months, to pay for the modernisation of its military and infrastructure to assist a brigade of German troops, and their households, that shall be deployed in Lithuania and combat-ready from 2027.
Whereas agreeing on Russia coverage, the 2 prime candidates differ on points akin to same-sex civil partnerships, which Nauseda opposes, and have a historical past of acrimonious bickering and refusing to talk to one another.
Lithuania’s president has a semi-executive position, which incorporates heading the armed forces and chairing the supreme defence and nationwide safety coverage physique, and represents the nation on the European Union and NATO summits.
In tandem with the federal government, the president units overseas and safety coverage, can veto legal guidelines and has a say within the appointment of key officers akin to judges, the chief prosecutor, the chief of defence and head of the central financial institution.
In 2019, Nauseda gained a presidential election run-off towards Simonyte, a former finance minister, with 66% of vote.
Simonyte can also be going through a troublesome take a look at in a common election this October, as authorities events path within the polls.
