Lithuanians vote for president today: Russia and security are main topics

(Patria) - Lithuanians are voting today in a presidential election where the current president, Gitanas Nauseda, a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its two-year war with Russia, is expected to win a new term, following a campaign focused on security concerns in the Baltic states.

Polling stations close at 8 p.m. local time, with results expected after midnight. If no candidate wins more than 50%, which is likely according to opinion polls, a second round of voting will be held on May 26, Reuters reported.

Nauseda (59), a former senior economist at a leading bank, has the support of 29% of voters, a recent Delfi/Spinter Tyrimai poll showed. His main rival is Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte (49), the only woman running, with 14% support.

Across the region, voters are concerned that the Baltic former Soviet republics, now members of the NATO military alliance and the European Union, could be targets of Russian aggression in the future. Slightly more than half of Lithuanians believe a Russian attack is possible or even very likely, an ELTA/Baltijos Tyrimai poll showed. Lithuanian intelligence said in March that Russia was on track to strengthen
its military capabilities along its border with NATO. Moscow has regularly denied this.

Food supplies as a priority

Most candidates in today's election, including Simonyte and Nauseda, told national television that they both keep food supplies at home ready in case of military conflict.

"I am doing everything I can to ensure that it will not be necessary," Nauseda said during a debate.

Both Nauseda and Simonyte support increasing defense spending to at least 3% of Lithuania's gross domestic product, from the 2.75% planned for this year, to pay for the modernization of the army and infrastructure to support a brigade of German troops and their families, who will be stationed in Lithuania and ready to fight from 2027.

While they agree on Russia policy, they differ on issues such as same-sex civil partnerships, which Nauseda opposes, and have a history of heated arguments and refusing to talk to each other.

The President of Lithuania has a semi-executive role, which includes commanding the armed forces and presiding over the supreme body for defense and national security policy, and represents the country at European Union and NATO summits. In tandem with the government, the president sets foreign and security policy, can veto laws, and has a casting vote in the appointment of key officials such as judges, the chief prosecutor, the chief of defense, and the head of the central bank.

Nauseda won in 2019 in the second round of the presidential election against Simonyte, a former finance minister, with 66% of the vote. Simonyte faces a tough test in the general election in October, as government parties lag in the polls.