Wondering if Lithuania is going to become closer to Moscow

The opposition wins parliamentary elections, but intrigue remains

By Ihor SAMOKYSH, The Day, Kiev

After the first round of parliamentary elections in Lithuania that took place these days, a lot of people are wondering if the country is going to become closer to Moscow, or if it will happen the other way around. According to the preliminary results, Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius’ conservative party Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats is only the third, with 15.02 percent of votes (13 seats). This happened despite the fact that the conservatives had fought financial crisis rather successfully, which earned them recognition and respect from the EU and IMF for “frugality and discipline.” Nevertheless, ordinary people resented Kubilius’ belt-tightening policy and were disappointed by it. Lithuanians believed the populism of the left and voted for them. According to the data provided by the Central Election Commission, the Labor Party, headed by the millionaire of Russian descent Viktor Uspaskich, got 19.87 percent of votes (17 seats), and the Social Democratic Party received 18.44 percent of votes (15 seats). A total of seven parties are going to form the new parliament.

The Vilnius-based political expert Lauras BIELINIS said in his telephone interview to The Day that the result of these elections can be viewed as positive. “All main parties, left as well as right ones, got approximately even numbers of votes. So, the Seimas (Parliament) will not be overwhelmed by one dominant political force. All important matters should be solved jointly, through mutual concessions, if needed.”

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