Lithuanian Gitanas Nauseda declares victory in presidential elections

World Courant

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte has admitted defeat within the last spherical of presidential elections within the Baltic nation.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has declared victory within the last spherical of the Baltic nation’s presidential elections, as partial outcomes confirmed him with a giant lead within the two-way race towards Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte.

Ballots from almost 90 % of polling stations on Sunday confirmed Nauseda, 60, successful about three-quarters of the vote, adopted by Simonyte, 49, of the ruling center-right Homeland Union social gathering.

Simonyte, in remarks to reporters, admitted defeat and congratulated Nauseda.

That is the second time that Nauseda and Simonyte are taking part within the second spherical of the presidential elections. In 2019, Nauseda defeated Simonyte with 66 % of the vote.

As president, Nauseda has a semi-executive function that features main the armed forces, chairing the protection and nationwide safety coverage physique and representing the nation at NATO and European Union summits.

The previous senior economist at Swedish banking group SEB, who isn’t affiliated with any social gathering, gained the primary spherical of elections on Might 12 with 44 % of the vote, lower than the 50 % he wanted for an outright victory.

Simonyte was the one girl among the many eight candidates within the first spherical and got here second with 20 %.

Each Nauseda and Simonyte assist growing protection spending to no less than 3 % of Lithuania’s gross home product, from the two.75 % deliberate for this yr, within the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Like different Baltic nations, Lithuania is worried that this could possibly be Moscow’s subsequent goal. Russian President Vladimir Putin has mentioned he has no plans to assault NATO nations.

The uneasy relationship between Nauseda and Simonyte has additionally attracted consideration in international coverage debates, particularly on Lithuania’s relations with China.

Bilateral ties grew to become strained in 2021, when Vilnius allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy beneath the island’s identify, a departure from the same old diplomatic apply of utilizing the identify of the capital, Taipei, to keep away from angering Beijing.

China, which considers self-ruled Taiwan a part of its territory, has downgraded diplomatic ties with Vilnius and blocked exports, prompting some Lithuanian politicians to push for a restoration of ties within the pursuits of the economic system.

Lithuanian Gitanas Nauseda declares victory in presidential elections | Elections information

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