In the final round of Lithuania’s presidential elections, President Gitanas Nauseda has been re-elected, according to partial results reported by Al Jazeera. Nauseda emerged as the clear winner in the two-way race against his opponent, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, with early results showing him far ahead.
This marks the second time Nauseda and Simonyte have competed in presidential run-off elections. President Gitanas Nauseda previously secured victory over Simonyte in 2019 with 66 per cent of the vote. In the recent election, ballots from nearly 90 per cent of polling stations indicated Nauseda, 60, winning approximately three-quarters of the vote, with Simonyte, 49, from the ruling centre-right Homeland Union party trailing behind. Following his re-election, Simonyte conceded defeat and congratulated Nauseda.
As president, Nauseda holds a semi-executive role, which includes leading the armed forces, chairing defence and national security policy bodies, and representing the country at NATO and European Union summits. The former senior economist with the Swedish banking group SEB, who is unaffiliated with any party, secured victory in the first round of the election on May 12 but fell short of the required 50 per cent for an outright win.
Both President Gitanas Nauseda and PM Simonyte advocate for increasing defence spending to at least 3 percent of Lithuania’s gross domestic product, citing concerns over Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and fears of potential aggression against Baltic nations. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reassured that there are no intentions to attack any NATO countries.
The relationship between Nauseda and Simonyte has been characterized by tension, particularly in foreign policy debates, including Lithuania’s relations with China. Tensions escalated in 2021 when Vilnius allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy under the island’s name, leading to strained bilateral ties and economic repercussions. Some Lithuanian politicians have called for a restoration of relations with China to alleviate economic strains.
The re-election of President Nauseda amidst a divisive political landscape underscores the ongoing challenges and dynamics within Lithuania’s leadership and foreign relations.