Second round of Lithuanian parliamentary elections scheduled
Lithuanians will vote today in the second round of the Lithuanian Seimas elections.
In the first round of the elections held on October 11, the Homeland Union (TS-LKD) party claimed an upset victory against the Farmers and Green Union (LVZS), winning 23 seats in the 141-seat legislature. Concerned about the LVZS’s handling of the COVID-19 response and the economic effects of the pandemic, voters opted for the opposition centre-right TS-LKD party and the chance for a new ruling coalition. The winner of today’s election will control the Seimas, Lithuania’s unicameral parliament, and will be invited to form a coalition government.
Should TS-LKD win today, it is likely to put forward political heavyweight Ingrida Simonyte as the new coalition’s choice for prime minister. A former finance minister and presidential candidate, Simonyte is known for implementing successful austerity measures that helped Lithuania quickly recover from the 2008 global economic crisis. As prime minister, Simonyte would adopt a similar approach to accelerate a COVID-19 economic recovery. She is likely to increase corporate taxes and increase VAT taxes to balance the government budget deficit, but government spending is unlikely to be cut drastically.
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