Lithuania: President Nauseda expected to run for second term

Lithuania’s presidential campaign is gathering pace, Linas Jegelevicius reports for Baltic News Network. Incumbent president Gitanas Nauseda has the lead in several polls, and he is expected to run for a second term. The ruling Homeland Union has started the process to choose the party’s presidential candidate. Potential names include Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas, Social Security and Labour Minister Monika Navickiene, and chairman of the parliament’s national security and defence committee, Laurynas Kasciunas. The Lithuanian Liberal Movement (LLS) and the opposition Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) will choose their presidential candidates at the end of 2023. So far, only two politicians have announced their candidacy: right-wing lawyer and anti-vaccination activist Ignas Vegele and former health minister Aurelijus Veryga of the opposition Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVZS). Another potential candidate is Dainius Zalimas, former chairman of Lithuania’s Constitutional Court.