Party support in Lithuania has remained broadly steady in recent months, despite the resignation of Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas and subsequent changes to the ruling coalition, according to a Vilmorus survey published by Lietuvos Rytas on Friday.
The poll found shifts in backing for all parliamentary parties fell within the margin of error.
The governing Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) continues to lead, with 15.1% support – up slightly from 14.6% in June.
If parliamentary elections were held next Sunday, 12.8% of respondents said they would vote for the opposition conservative Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats (up from 10.4% in June), while 10.9% would back coalition partner Nemunas Dawn (9.3% in June).
Support for the opposition Democrats “For Lithuania” dropped to 8.5% from 10.5%, while the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union polled at 7.2%, little changed from 7.4%.
Vilmorus director Vladas Gaidys said criticism of the centre-left administration had done little to dent its core support.
“It does not really affect people. The same happened with the Labour Party in the past, when the elite was strongly against it, but those who usually support such parties are far less likely to notice the negatives,” he told BNS news agency.
The Liberal Movement registered 5.4% support, down from 7.2% in June.
Between the two surveys, Paluckas’ cabinet resigned and the Social Democrats re-formed their governing bloc, retaining Nemunas Dawn but replacing the Democrats with the Farmers and Greens and the Christian Families Alliance.
Saulius Skvernelis, leader of the Democrats "For Lithuania" and former parliamentary speaker, has seen his ratings fall (from 50.1% trust in June to 42.2%) after his party lost its place in the ruling majority, while Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalinenė has emerged as one of Lithuania's least trusted politicians. The Social Democrat defense minister is distrusted by 48.2% (up from 42.6% in June) and trusted by 26.3% (slightly down from 27.9%).
President Gitanas Nausėda continues to lead with a trust rating of 58.3%, slightly down from 60.1% in June.
Trust in Social Security and Labor Minister Inga Ruginienė grew after she was appointed prime minister, rising to 41.5% in September from 34.6% in June. Though, distrust in her also rose, from 22.1% to 27.8%.
The latest poll was conducted in early September, before President Gitanas Nausėda rejected Nemunas Dawn’s nominees for the environment and energy portfolios, Povilas Poderskis and Mindaugas Jablonskis. That move prompted further coalition talks, with the Social Democrats eventually agreeing to hand Nemunas Dawn the Energy Ministry in exchange for Culture.
The survey also showed 2% would vote for other parties (1.9% in June). Around 10.1% said they would not vote and 28% remained undecided – little changed from June’s figures of 10.3% and 28.4%.
Updated: included trust statistics for politicians.
Correction: Šakalienė was listed as the least trusted politician, which is not the case.
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