This Sunday, the Lithuanian people will cast their votes in parliamentary elections.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Joseph DAUL, expressed his support and wished EPP member party, the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD), and Chairman, Gabrielius LANDSBERGIS, an electoral victory.

“I support people with ideas, who have a plan for how to turn those ideas into action. This is why I fully support Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) and Chairman Landsbergis in the upcoming elections”, said President Daul.

Joseph DAUL, the President of the European People’s Party (EPP),

“Lithuania needs a government that can tackle the current challenges facing the country. TS-LKD understands the problems and offers concrete solutions for how to fix them. The party has prepared a solid, balanced and achievable plan — the Plan for Lithuania — with proposals for boosting the Lithuanian economy by bringing more investment to the country’s regions. The plan also contains a forward-looking education policy that will provide better opportunities for the younger generation. Last but not least, TS-LKD puts the safety of Lithuanian citizens high on its agenda, by bolstering the security of the country”, added President Daul.

“Chairman Landsbergis did a very good job as an MEP in the European Parliament. He has an impressive track record of working on EU-Russia and EU-Ukraine relations. I am convinced that his experience, commitment to centre-right values and his European connections will help Lithuania to benefit under his leadership. Moreover, the excellent TS-LKD team of qualified candidates running for office will be able to deliver on the party’s ambitious “Plan for Lithuania”.

“On behalf of the EPP family, I wish the very best of luck to the TS-LKD party and to Chairman Landsbergis. I am confident that TS-LKD will work hard to secure the economic prosperity of Lithuania and the well-being of the Lithuanian people”, concluded the President.

INFOBOX

Lithuanian parliamentary election 2016

Lithuanian parliament (Seimas)

Parliamentary elections will be held in Lithuania on 9 October 2016, with a second round on 23 October in the constituencies where no candidate wins a majority in the first round of voting.

All 141 seats in the Seimas are up for election; 71 in single-seat constituencies elected by majority vote and the remaining 70 in a nationwide constituency based on proportional representation.

The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party is the largest party in the Seimas before the elections, following its victory in the 2012 elections. The Social Democrats formed a government coalition with the Labour Party and Order and Justice.

The 2012 parliamentary elections were held on 14 October 2012, with the run-off on 28 October. The elections were won by the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania, witch took 38 seats in the 141-member Eleventh Seimas. Social Democrats were joined in the coalition government by Labour, Order and Justice and the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania. The Polish party withdrew from the government in 2014.

The resulting government was headed by the leader of the Social Democrats, Algirdas Butkevičius, as the Prime Minister.

The Seimas (Parliament) has 141 members, elected to a four-year term in parallel voting, with 71 members elected in single-seat constituencies and 70 members elected by proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency. Voting in the elections is open to all citizens of Lithuania who are at least 18-years-old.

Members of the Seimas in the 71 single-seat constituencies are elected by a majority vote, with a run-off held within 15 days, if necessary. The remaining 70 seats are allocated to the participating political parties using the largest remainder method. Parties normally need to receive at least 5% (7% for multi-party electoral lists) of the votes to be eligible for a seat. Candidates take the seats allocated to their parties based on the preference lists submitted before the elections and adjusted by preference votes given by the voters.

To be eligible for election, candidates must be at least 25-years-old on the election day, not under allegiance to a foreign state and permanently resident in Lithuania. Persons serving or due to serve a sentence imposed by the court 65 days before the elections are not eligible. Also, judges, citizens performing military service, and servicemen of professional military service and officials of statutory institutions and establishments may not stand for election.In addition, a person who has been removed from office through impeachment may not be elected.