Lithuanians vote in presidential election as concerns grow over Russia, Ukraine war

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Lithuanians will vote in the presidential election on Sunday at a time when Russian advances on the battlefield in Ukraine are fueling greater fears about Moscow's intentions, particularly in the strategically important Baltic region.

The popular incumbent, Gitanas Nausėda, is favorite to win a new five-year term. But there are eight candidates running in total, making it difficult for him or any other candidate to muster the 50% of votes needed to win outright on Sunday. In this case, a second round will take place on May 26.

Polling stations open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. (17:00 GMT). The results are expected Sunday evening.

The main tasks of the president in the Lithuanian political system are to supervise foreign and security policy and to act as supreme commander of the armed forces. This adds importance to the position of this relatively small country given that it is strategically located on NATO's eastern flank as tensions rise between Russia and the West over the invasion of Ukraine via Moscow.

The Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, on the Baltic Sea, is sandwiched between Lithuania to the north and east and Poland to the south. Lithuania, as well as neighboring Latvia and Estonia, are very concerned about the latest advances of Russian troops in northeastern Ukraine.

The three Baltic states declared their independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union and took a determined direction westward. , joining both the European Union and NATO.

Nausėda is a moderate conservative who turns 60 a week after Sunday's elections. One of his main opponents is Ingrida Šimonytė, 49, the current Prime Minister and former Minister of Finance, whom he beat in the 2019 runoff with 66% of the vote.

A Another candidate is Ignas Vėgėlė, a populist. lawyer who gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic by opposing restrictions and vaccines.

A referendum is also underway on Sunday. He asks whether the Constitution should be amended to allow dual citizenship for hundreds of thousands of Lithuanians living abroad.

Lithuanian citizens who currently adopt another nationality must renounce their Lithuanian citizenship, which which does not bode well for the country. Baltic nation whose population has increased from 3.5 million inhabitants in 1990 to 2.8 million today.

For the first time, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe has refused an invitation from Lithuania to observe the elections.

The Lithuanian government wanted to exclude observers from Russia and Belarus, accusing the two countries — both members of...