Lithuania’s conservative party selects presidential candidate: PM and two ministers in the lead

Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and Social Security Minister Monika Navickienė are the front-running candidates for the party nomination proposed by the regional branches of the conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD).

The party’s branches could propose multiple candidates whom they’d like to see nominated until Sunday. Almost all mentioned PM Šimonytė, Landsbergis, who is also the TS-LKD leader, and Navickienė.

Moreover, more than half of the party’s chapters proposed MP Laurynas Kasčiūnas, chairman of the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defence, and Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas, as well as Parliament Vice-Speaker Paulius Saudargas.

Monika Navickienė | J. Stacevičiaus / LRT nuotr.

A total of 70 party chapters suggested candidates for the TS-LKD nomination in next May’s presidential election.

Šimonytė was the top pick, appearing on the list of 66 party chapters, followed by Landsbergis with 64, Navickienė with 62, Kasčiūnas with 54, Anušauskas with 42, and Saudargas with 41.

According to Martynas Prievelis, the TS-LKD executive secretary, the candidates proposed by the branches will now be reviewed by the party’s Supervisory Committee and the presidium will then decide on the final list.

The TS-LKD plans to hold open primaries on November 11 and 12. In addition to picking its presidential candidate, the party will finalise its election list for June’s European Parliament elections.

Arvydas Anušauskas, Laurynas Kasčiūnas | D. Umbraso / LRT nuotr.

Voting in the primaries will be open to party members as well as “supporters”.

Opinion polls indicate that Gitanas Nausėda, the incumbent, is currently the clear favourite to win Lithuania’s presidential election next year. The other two top contenders are Ignas Vėgėlė, a lawyer, and Šimonytė.

In 2019, Nausėda faced off Šimonytė in the run-off, winning 66 percent of the vote against the prime minister's 33.

Nausėda and Vėgėlė have said they will announce their decisions on whether to run later this year.

The Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, currently the biggest parliamentary opposition party, is fielding former health minister Aurelijus Veryga in the presidential race.

Mantas Varaška, the mayor of the town of Kazlų Rūda in southern Lithuania, has recently announced his intention to run for president. He is supported by the Lithuanian Regions Party.