The right-wing populist lawyer Ignas Vegele, who was also given a good chance, failed to make it into the runoff election for the presidency. This will take place on May 26th. Prime Minister Simonyte had already run against Nauseda in a runoff election in 2019 and was defeated at the time.
In Lithuania’s political system, the president determines foreign policy together with the government. He also takes part in the EU and NATO summits, of which the Baltic country is a member. When filling the highest state positions, he must consult the government and parliament.
Lithuania and the two other Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia fear they too could be targeted by Russia because President Vladimir Putin considers them part of Russia’s “sphere of influence.” The former Soviet republics have been part of the EU and NATO since 2004.