Liberal Movement picks MEP Auštrevičius as presidential candidate

Auštrevičius was supported by 453 delegates during the party’s election, defeating Lithuania’s former ambassador to UNESCO, MP Arūnas Gelūnas, with 368 votes.

Candidates for president were elected in electronic voting by all Liberals who had paid membership fees. Out of the 2,800 members, over 800 cast their ballots in the election.

Results of the two-day voting were published during the party’s congress in the Kėdainiai district, central Lithuania, on Saturday.

Speaking about his program, Auštrevičius emphasized the need to lower taxes, also speaking about allowing dual citizenship, promoting mobility of labor force within Lithuania and opening of the labor market.

The MEP is one of the founders of the Liberal Movement and the party’s first leader. He was also Lithuania’s senior negotiator in the accession talks with the European Union.

Lithuania’s presidential election will take place in May of 2019.

So far, candidacy plans have been announced by MEP Valentinas Mazuronis, MPs Naglis Puteikis and Aušra Maldeikienė. Former diplomats Vygaudas Ušackas and Žygimantas Pavilionis said they would take part in the conservative party’s initial election for president.

Other potential candidates, including SEB bank economist Gitanas Nausėda, MP Ingrida Šimonytė, European Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis and Kaunas Mayor Visvaldas Matijošaitis ranking high on opinion polls, have not yet announced their decision regarding joining the presidential race.