Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė will seek the ruling conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats’ (TS-LKD) nomination for the presidential election next year.
“Yes, I will be running in the TS-LKD primary. Why? Well, the nomination of 60+ branches is binding. The motives are many and varied, but all in all, I want moderate, pro-European right-wing Lithuanian citizens to have someone to vote for,” Šimonytė wrote on Facebook.
Recently, TS-LKD regional branches proposed candidates whom they’d like to see nominated for president.
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 Foreign Minister and TS-LKD leader Gabrielius Landsbergis with 64, and Social Security and Labour Minister Monika Navickienė with 62.
Landsbergis announced last week that he will not seek the party’s presidential nomination.
Navickienė, as well as Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas also said on Wednesday they will not seek to be nominated to run for president. Both said that Šimonytė’s decision helped them to make up their mind.
The TS-LKD will hold a primary election of its candidates for the upcoming presidential election on November 11-12. All party members and supporters will be able to cast their votes.
Šimonytė ran for president in 2019 when she was defeated in the second round of voting by Gitanas Nausėda.
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