Russia worries dominate as Lithuania votes
Prime Minister Simonyte’s ruling conservatives and President Nauseda have clashed over relations with Beijing, which have been strained over Taiwan
Lithuania voted yesterday in a presidential election dominated by security concerns with the main candidates all agreeing that the NATO and EU member should boost defense spending to counter the perceived threat from neighboring Russia.
The Baltic state of 2.8 million people fears it could be next in Russia’s crosshairs if Moscow wins its war against Ukraine.
While the top three contenders agree on defense, they have diverging views on social issues and on Lithuania’s relations with China, which have been strained for years over Taiwan.
“Lithuania’s understanding of the Russian threat is unanimous and unquestionable, so the main candidates are following suit,” Eastern Europe Studies Centre director Linas Kojala said.
Polls close at 5pm GMT and the result was expected later yesterday, but a runoff on Sunday next week would probably be needed with no candidate expected to win an overall majority.
Opinion polls give Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda a comfortable lead over the other seven candidates, who include Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte and lawyer Ignas Vegele.
Pensioner Aldona Majauskiene, 82, said that she had voted for Nauseda because “he is the best in every category.”
Fifty-three-year-old civil servant Airine said she voted for Simonyte as there would likely be less populism if she became president.
“I am not voting for faces, I am voting for those who really can help boost our security and quality of living,” she said.
The Lithuanian president steers defense and foreign policy, attending EU and NATO summits, but must consult with the government and parliament on appointing the most senior officials.
“Simonyte is supported by conservative party voters and liberal people, while Nauseda is a candidate of the left in terms of economic and social policy,” Vilnius University analyst Ramunas Vilpisauskas said.
Meanwhile, “Vegele will get support from those who simply want change,” he added.
The uneasy relationship between Nauseda and his rival Simonyte’s ruling conservatives has at times triggered foreign policy debates, most notably on Lithuania’s relations with China.
Bilateral ties turned tense in 2021, when Vilnius allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy under the name Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania in a departure from the common diplomatic practice of using the name of the capital, Taipei, to avoid angering Beijing.
In response, China downgraded diplomatic relations with Vilnius and blocked its exports, causing some Lithuanian politicians to urge a restoration of relations for eco- nomic reasons.
“China’s reaction to the open- ing of the office was harsher than predicted, and that sparked the debate,” Kojala said, adding that China’s response was hurting local businesses.