Lithuania's heads of state and
government faced off on Sunday in round two of the presidential
election, as the Baltic nation prioritises defence and security
amid fears over neighbouring Russia. Both candidates agree that
the NATO and EU member of 2.8 million should boost defence
spending to counter the perceived threat, and to that end the
government recently proposed a tax increase.
Former banker and incumbent Gitanas Nauseda, 60, is the heavy
favourite to win another five-year term, saying he expects to
receive 75 percent of votes. There have been no opinion polls
since the first round, when Nauseda won 44 percent of the ballot
and Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte 20 percent. Simonyte, the
49-year-old candidate of the ruling conservatives, is running
for president again after losing to Nauseda in the last
presidential ballot. The Lithuanian president steers defence and
foreign policy, attending EU and NATO summits, but must consult
with the government and parliament on appointing the most senior
officials. While the candidates agree on defence, they share
diverging views on Lithuania's relations with China, which have
been strained for years over Taiwan.
- 'Threat of war' -
Gene, a pensioner who refused to give her full name, said she
had voted for Nauseda. "He is a courageous, decisive, consistent
decision-maker who is respected in the European Union and is
fighting for Lithuania," she told AFP. "He respects the people,
he is intelligent and he is committed to putting Lithuania on
the path to prosperity." Fifty-three-year-old artist Gediminas
Zilys, voted Simonyte. "I understand that she will not win, but
because support gives people confidence, we must vote for her to
show that she has a lot of supporters," he said. Pensioner Ausra
Vysniauskiene preferred Nauseda. "He's an intelligent man, he
speaks many languages, he's educated, he's a banker," the
67-year-old told AFP.
"I want men to lead, especially when the threat of war is so
big." Lithuania is a significant donor to Ukraine, which has
been battling Russia since the 2022 invasion, and is already a
big defence spender, with a military budget equal to 2.75
percent of GDP. This week, Simonyte's government came up with
proposals that could help raise defence spending to three
percent. Lithuania intends to use the funds to purchase tanks
and additional air defence systems, and to host a German
brigade, as Berlin plans to complete the stationing of around
5,000 troops by 2027. Vilnius fears it could be next in the
crosshairs if Moscow were to win its war against Ukraine.
According to the Germany-based Kiel Institute, Lithuania
ranks among the top three countries globally in terms of the GDP
percentage spent on aid for Ukraine, at 1.22 percent. - Tension
over Taiwan - The uneasy relationship between Nauseda and
Simonyte's ruling conservatives has at times triggered foreign
policy debates, most notably on Lithuania's relations with
China. Bilateral ties turned tense in 2021, when Vilnius allowed
Taiwan to open a de facto embassy under the island's name -- a
departure from the common diplomatic practice of using the name
of the capital Taipei to avoid angering Beijing. China, which
considers self-ruled Taiwan a part of its territory, downgraded
diplomatic relations with Vilnius and blocked its exports,
leading some Lithuanian politicians to urge a restoration of
relations for the sake of the economy. Nauseda sees the need to
change the name of the representative office, while Simonyte
pushes back against it.
- Gay rights -
But for voters, personal differences between the candidates, as
well as economic policy and human rights, seem to matter more.
Simonyte is known for her sense of humour and for writing her
own social media posts. She draws support from liberal voters in
bigger cities and traditional conservative voters. She is a
fiscal conservative with liberal views on social issues and
notably supports same-sex partnerships, which still stir
controversy in the predominantly Catholic country. "I would like
to see faster progress, more openness... more tolerance for
people who are different from us," Simonyte said when casting an
early vote. Nauseda, who maintains a moderate and measured
stance on nearly all issues, has established himself as a
promoter of the welfare state, with conservative views on gay
rights. "The past five years have shown that I have tried to
achieve the goals I set," he said while casting an early vote.
Polling stations close at 1700 GMT, with no exit polls expected.
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