US presence in Europe and the Baltic region is the best deterrent against Russia, contributing to stability in the whole region, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated, BNS reports. Speaking at the European Political Community summit in the UK, Nauseda said that if former US president Donald Trump won the US presidential elections in November 2024,…
The opposition Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) remains the country’s most popular political party ahead of the parliamentary elections due in October 2024, according to a Spinter Tyrimai poll for DELFI in June 2024, ELTA reports. The survey showed that 13.8% of respondents would now vote for LSDP, which is up from 13.2% in…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda was inaugurated as president for a second term on 12 July 2024, LRT reports. In his inaugural address, Nauseda pledged to strengthen national security, defend Lithuanian interests in foreign policy, continue supporting Ukraine, and foster ties with the US. He called for raising Lithuania’s defence budget to 4% of GDP by…
Lithuania’s opposition Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVZS) and Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) could form a two-party coalition government after the parliamentary elections in October 2024, LVZS chairman Ramunas Karbauskis stated, ELTA reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Karbauskis said that the two parties could have a stable majority in parliament. However,…
Lithuanian MEP Viktor Uspaskich has returned to the Labour Party as its interim chairman, BNS reports. Uspaskich was reinstated following the resignation of MP Valentinas Bukauskas and after the opposition party’s poor performance in recent presidential and European Parliament elections. The Labour Party’s council has formed a group to negotiate potential coalitions for the upcoming…
The number of eligible voters in Lithuania’s presidential election and dual citizenship referendum on 12 May 2024 totals 2,385,234, which is almost 100,000 (4%) less than five years ago, according to the Central Electoral Commission (VRK), BNS reports. Revoking the current ban on dual citizenship will require the support of more than 50% of all…
Campaigners for dual citizenship in Lithuania may not be able to advertise on media, BNS reports. A spokeswoman for the Central Electoral Commission (VRK) noted that political advertising could only be paid for by participants of the referendum campaign. The referendum was initiated by a group of members of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas. Marija…
Estonia’s President, Alar Karis, has declared elections to the European Parliament to be held on 9 June 2024, ERR reports. Registration of candidates will begin on 10 April 2024 and early voting on 3 June 2024. Parties can nominate up to nine candidates each. Altogether 912,000 voters in Estonia are registered for the elections, ERR…
Estonia’s ruling coalition plans to lower the country’s voting age in all elections to 16 years, ERR reports. The coalition has agreed on cutting the minimum voting age in elections to the European Parliament. Under the plan, teenagers would be able to vote in European elections in 2029. The coalition parties want to cut the…