First direct mayoral elections successful for Lithuania’s social democrats

In the first round of voting two weeks ago and run-offs on Sunday, the Social Democrats won 16 mayoral posts, including eight candidates elected in the first round and eight more in run-off voting on 15 March.

The second party in terms of the number of mayors is the opposition Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats (conservatives) with victories in 11 municipalities.

The conservatives are closely followed by the opposition Liberal Movement, which secured merely one mayoral position in the first round of voting but won eight posts in run-offs.

The Lithuanian Freedom Union (Liberals) should have mayors in five municipalities, the Peasant and Greens party should have four mayors, while the Order and Justice party and the Labour Party should have three mayors each. The Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania should be at the helm of two municipalities.

Candidates nominated by public electoral committees won elections in four municipalities, with an independent candidate winning the mayoral post in one municipality and a member of the Republican party triumphant in one municipality as well.

On Sunday, the run-off voting was held in 40 municipalities across Lithuania. Nineteen mayors were elected in the first round of voting on 1 March, while election results in the Trakai district were annulled due to gross violations.

Lithuania has a total of 60 municipalities.