Lithuania: LSDP wins big in parliamentary elections

Lithuania’s main opposition party, the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP), scored a big victory after the second round of parliamentary elections on 27 October 2024, LRT reports. Altogether eight parties and two independent candidates won seats in the 141-member parliament, the Seimas. LSDP managed to win as many as 52 seats, which is up sharply from just 14 at present. The party is expected to form a new coalition government.

LSDP leader, MEP Vilija Blinkeviciute announced that she planned to form a three-party coalition with two other centrist opposition parties, the Union of Democrats for Lithuania (DSVL) and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVZS), which both lost seats. DSVL got 14 seats, which is down from 16, while LVZS got just 8 seats, which is down from 17 seats. Together, the three parties will have 74 MPs, which is enough to form a majority in parliament.

The outgoing coalition’s ruling party, conservative Homeland Union, suffered a major defeat, winning just 28 seats, which is down from 49 at present. Homeland Union’s coalition partner, the Lithuanian Liberal Movement (LLS), managed to keep most of its seats and will have 12 MPs in the new parliament, which is just 1 less than now. Meanwhile, the third coalition partner, the smaller liberal Freedom Party, was crushed, losing all its 10 seats.

The new far-right opposition party, the Dawn of Nemunas, came in third with 20 seats. Most other parties, including the LSDP, have rejected cooperation with the Dawn of Nemunas due to its association with antisemitism. The Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania (LLRA) won 3 seats (up from 2), while the right-wing populist party, Freedom and Justice (PLT), won 1 seat. The two independent MPs both used to represent the Russia-friendly Labour Party.