Lithuanian presidential election, May 2019

Summary:

Reports, analyses and information related to the presidential election in Lithuania held in May 2019.

Further information:

Lithuanian presidential election were held on 12 May 2019. The President is elected by absolute majority vote to serve up to two five-year terms. If no candidate wins an absolute majority of the votes with at least 50%, or receives votes equal to at least one third of all registered votes, the election goes to a second round between the top two candidates. The president has the power to veto laws, set foreign and defence policy, and is involved in appointing judges, the chief prosecutor and the central bank chief.

Nine candidates competed for the country's presidency currently held by Dalia Grybauskaite, who cannot stand for re-election after completing her two five-year terms.

The voter turnout tailed at 56,89%. Centre-left Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said he planned to step down as Prime Minister in July, after he was eliminated from the run-off having come in third place (19,70%).

The former economist Gitanas Nauseda won won the election in the run-off, held on 26 May, with 65,86%, while his opponent the conservative ex-finance minister Ingrida Simonyte stood at 32,86%.

Commentary and Analysis

Foreign Policy Research Institute, 17/04/2019: Lithuania's Presidential Election: Same Policy Wine in New Bottles? https://www.fpri.org/article/2019/04/lithuanias-presidential-election-same-policy-wine-in-new-bottles/

OSW: Analyses: 15/05/2019: The first round of presidential elections in Lithuania: no clear leader, defeat for the Prime Minister https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2019-05-15/first-round-presidential-elections-lithuania-no-clear-leader-defeat

Bloomberg, 26/05/2019: Ex-Banker Wins by Landslide in Lithuanian Presidential Vote https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-26/former-banker-leads-early-count-in-lithuania-s-presidential-vote

OSW: Analyses, 28/05/2019: Nausėda, Lithuania’s new president https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2019-05-28/nauseda-lithuanias-new-president

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News

Deutsche Welle, 12/05/2019: Lithuania vote to succeed 'Iron Lady' president goes to runoff https://p.dw.com/p/3IO65

Deutsche Welle, 12/05/2019: Polls close in Lithuania presidental election https://p.dw.com/p/3IMH4

Reuters, 12/05/2019: Front-runners Simonyte, Nauseda to meet in Lithuania presidential runoff, prime minister to resign https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN1SI02S

EurActiv, 13/05/2019: Lithuania presidential runoff pits novice against ex-minister as PM quits https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/lithuania-presidential-runoff-pits-novice-against-ex-minister-as-pm-quits/

EUObserver, 13/05/2019: Lithuania PM concedes defeat in presidential elections https://euobserver.com/tickers/144872

Politico, 13/05/2019: Lithuanian PM knocked out of presidential vote https://www.politico.eu/article/lithuanian-pm-knocked-out-of-presidential-vote/

BBC News, 13/05/2019: Lithuania election: PM Saulius Skvernelis to quit after poor result https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48249482

Euronews, 13/05/2019: Lithuania presidential election: PM Skvernelis to resign after losing in first round https://www.euronews.com/2019/05/10/lithuania-presidential-election-all-or-nothing-as-prime-minister-looks-to-become-head-of-s

Politico, 25/05/2019: Close race ahead in Lithuania’s presidential election https://www.politico.eu/article/close-race-ahead-in-lithuanias-presidential-election/

EurActiv, 27/05/2019: Lithuania’s Nauseda wins presidential election https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/lithuanias-nauseda-wins-presidential-election/

Reuters, 26/05/2019: Lithuania's Nauseda wins presidential election https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1SW0TU

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Official

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 27/05/2019: Letter of congratulations by President Donald Tusk to Gitanas Nausėda, President-elect of Lithuania https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/05/27/letter-of-congratulations-by-president-donald-tusk-to-gitanas-nauseda-on-his-election-as-president-of-lithuania/

IFES Election Guide: Presidential Election in Lithuania, May 2019 http://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/3146/

The Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Lithuania: Preliminary results of the election https://www.vrk.lt/en/2019-prezidento/rezultatai?srcUrl=/rinkimai/904/2/1544/rezultatai/en/rezultataiPreRezultatai.html

The Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Lithuania: Voting results https://www.vrk.lt/en/2019-prezidento/rezultatai

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