Candidates spent EUR 6m on municipal election campaigns in Lithuania

Sixteen parties and movements that participated in the self-government election and received funds over EUR 47,800 had to submit financial reports, together with auditors’ reports, to the VRK by 15 June.

It was determined that expenditure surpassed income by EUR 1.14 million, while debts stood at EUR 1.2 million.

Election participants received a total of EUR 4.87 million to finance their political campaigns. Of this amount, their personal funds constituted EUR 1.75 million. EUR 1.49 million was allocated to political parties from the state budget, while parties themselves came up with EUR 1.1 million and natural persons donated EUR 0.54 million.

The Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) received EUR 884,000, the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) – EUR 844,000, the Labour Party – EUR 784,000, the Liberal Movement – EUR 625,000.

Most funds, 94 percent or EUR 5.66 million, were spent on political advertising. Advertising in the press cost EUR 1.5 million, on TV – EUR 0.7 million, online – EUR 0.4 million and on radio – EUR 0.16 million. EUR 1.6 million was spent on other types of advertising.

Biggest spenders were major political parties. Four parties accounted for 62 percent of the total expenditure on the election: the Labour Party spent EUR 997,000, the LSDP – EUR 974,000, the Liberal Movement – EUR 912,000, TS-LKD – EUR 879,000.