FAST DOWNLOAD
The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party led by Vilija Blinkeviciute, which favours maintaining strong support for kyiv, has won the first parliamentary elections held in the Baltic country bordering Russia and Belarus since the invasion of Ukraine.
Two million Lithuanians were expected to vote in Sunday’s second round, of which 41.31%, according to the Central Election Commission, exercised their right to vote, ten percentage points less than in the first round a fortnight ago. The Social Democrats have declared their intention to form a coalition with two other centrist parties currently in opposition, the Democratic Union for Lithuania and the Union of Peasants and Greens of Lithuania.
Neighbouring Russia, with a population of 2.8 million, is being watched cautiously by Lithuania, which fears it could be its next target if Moscow wins its war against Ukraine.
During the election campaign, all major Lithuanian parties agreed on support for Ukraine and the need to maintain or even increase the defence budget, which amounts to around 3% of GDP, above the 2% target set for members of the Atlantic Alliance.
