No doubt. Arturas Zuokas, who was Mayor of Vilnius twice, is eager and ready to occupy the chair for a third time. He didn’t make a secret out of it at a press conference on Monday, saying that he was ready to take the responsibility once again. His ‘Vilnius Coalition’ got 12 out of 51 mandates in the Vilnius election, just surpassing ‘The Polish Party’ that got 11 mandates.

An impressive comeback for a man who had already been written off by many.

In 100 polling districts (out of totally 151), Arturas Zuokas and his Vilnius Coalition received support from 17.45% of the voters; the Polish and Russian coalition was supported by 15.77% of the voters. The Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats came third with 13.49% of the vote.

Zuokas predicts that the ruling coalition in Vilnius City Municipal Council will be formed from at least three parties which are expected to be named as soon as Monday.

Also the Polish minority party increased its number of seats in the Vilnius city Council, when the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania managed to win 15.24 percent of the ballot in coalition with the Union of Russians, gaining 11 out of the 51 seats available in the capital’s council.

Waldemar Tomaszewski, head of the party and an MEP from the European Conservatives and Reformists grouping, tol din a press releasethat „the elections are a success.”

The Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania also won in regional elections, gaining 64.72 percent of the ballot in the Vilnius region, gaining 19 out of 27 seats in the local government.

44.04% of Lithuania’s voters went to the polls this Sunday to express their political will. Voter turnout data was collected from 2,016 polling stations in 60 municipalities. Turnout reached 1.152,765 people voted, 4.51% of ballot papers found invalid. Preliminary data shows that Alytus, Birstonas, Lazdijai, Silale, Svencionys, Salcininkai, Raseiniai, Pagegiai, Ignalina,Vilnius, Zarasai districts and Neringa city saw the highest local governments election turnout with over 50% of the local electorate going to the polls. The percentage of voters in the major cities was lower. According to preliminary counts, voter turnout was at 36.62% in Panevezys, 40.1% in Kaunas, 33.55% in Klaipeda, 41.49% in Alytus, 39.43 in Siauliai and 43.93% in Vilnius. Polling stations closed at 8 p.m.

A total of 16,404 candidates stood for election to municipal councils. Seats at municipal councils were sought by 23 party lists of candidates and 505 independent candidates.

Voters in 60 municipalities elected 1,526 municipal council members.

Sources: BNS, lrytas.lt, veidas.lt, delfi.lt