Lithuania Holds First Round of Parliamentary Elections

Lithuanians participated in the first round of parliamentary elections, potentially marking a significant political shift as the opposition Social Democrats and smaller center-left parties could replace the current center-right coalition led by Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė. Despite Lithuania's economic successes, including double-digit personal income growth and low inflation, widespread voter discontent is attributed to strict COVID-19 measures and challenges related to an influx of migrants from Belarus. Political analyst Rima Urbonaitė noted that economic improvements have not alleviated the disappointment stemming from multiple crises. The Social Democratic Party, led by Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, is expected to lead in votes but will likely need to form coalitions, as no party is projected to gain over 20% of the total vote. The runoff election is scheduled for October 27, where the leading candidates will compete for seats in the Seimas, Lithuania's parliament.