Lithuania’s TS-LKD picks Šimonytė as presidential candidate

According to the party’s secretariat, Šimonytė received 79 percent of votes (16,418) from TS-LKD members and non-members who pre-registered to vote. And her rival – former diplomat Vygaudas Ušackas – got 21 percent of votes (4,441).

Šimonytė says her victory by a large majority means “strong confidence and a strong commitment to continue working and trying to justify that confidence”.

She also stressed that one of her main goals is to get people interested in politics, get them be vocal and express their position. The MP also said she found not only the party’s support but also people’s support very important.

“At this stage, I believe I consider important the support of people who believe in me, believe in what I say, and it doesn’t matter if they are party members or not, just as I find equally unimportant if I am a party member or not,” the politician said.

Based on TS-LKD figures, all in all, 63 percent of the party’s members and pre-registered non-party members voted in the primary election held over two weekend days. Worth noting that non-party members were more active as 55 percent (8,247) party members voted, compared to 69 percent (12,681) of non-party members.

The election results are due to be confirmed by the party’s council.