VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Lithuanians will vote Sunday in the second round of the Baltic state's presidential election. The incumbent president Gitanas Nauseda They are aiming to prevent Prime Minister Ingrida Simonytė from resigning and secure another five-year term in office.
Nauzeda, 60, is a moderate conservative and a strong supporter of Ukraine, positions shared across much of the political spectrum. The popular Nauzeda has been in power since 2009, during which time Lithuania has provided refuge for many people who have fled Ukraine. Authoritarian repression in neighboring Belarus Increased Repression in Russia.
The main duties of the president in NATO member Lithuania's political system are to oversee foreign and defense policy and act as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Lithuania is strategic NATO's Eastern BlocThe relatively small country's presidency has taken on increased importance amid rising tensions between Russia and the West over the war in Ukraine.
The election comes amid growing Russian influence in Ukraine. greater concern about Moscow's intentions; especially The strategically important Baltic region.
Lithuania regained its independence in 1991 from the Soviet Union, which occupied the southernmost Baltic country for five decades, and joined the European Union and NATO in 2004.
Both candidates have openly criticized Moscow and Russia's ally, Minsk.
Nauseda, who is likely to be re-elected to a further five-year term, is a former banker who entered politics after winning the 2019 presidential election. He and Simonite won the first round of voting but fell short of the 50% needed to win the presidential election. Round 1 On May 12, he received 44% of the vote, compared with Šimonytė, who received nearly 20%.
Nauseda, who became prime minister in 2020, and Simonite also faced off in the 2019 presidential runoff election, with Nauseda winning with 66% of the vote.
The Lithuanian Central Election Commission is due to announce the election results on Monday.
