Staying the Course

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Lithuania’s center-left Social Democrats won Sunday’s parliamentary runoff elections, defeating the center-right ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, in a contest that highlighted national security and economic concerns amid heightened regional tensions with neighboring Russia, the Associated Press reported.

Results showed that the Social Democrats, led by Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, won 52 seats in the 141-seat Seimas, while Šimonytė’s Homeland Union won only 28 seats.

The Social Democrats are expected to form a coalition government with the Democratic Union, the Lithuanian Farmers party, and the Greens Union to secure a slim 74-seat majority.

In her concession speech, Šimonytė acknowledged the election reflected Lithuania’s historic trend of shifting political preferences every four years. The Homeland Union had faced criticism over pandemic restrictions and economic hardship during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

The outgoing administration also came under scrutiny for its response to a surge of migrants arriving via Belarus, which Lithuania says is the result of an attempt by Belarus and Russia to destabilize Lithuania.

Analysts said there will not be any major changes in the Baltic nation’s foreign policy, adding that Lithuania will maintain its membership and support of the European Union and NATO.

Blinkevičiūtė – whose campaign focused on economic reform and shoring up social services – reaffirmed Lithuania’s commitment to its security policy, pledging to maintain high defense spending amid Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, the Guardian wrote.

The country currently allocates 3 percent of its gross domestic product to defense. Blinkevičiūtė promised to raise this amount to at least 3.5 percent.

Meanwhile, the Social Democrats have ruled out any collaboration with the nationalist Nemunas Dawn party, which won 20 seats and is led by Remigijus Žemaitaitis, who stepped down earlier this year following an uproar over antisemitic comments.

Still, some political observers cautioned that the upcoming three-party coalition may prove too fragile to last without support from Nemunas Dawn.

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