POLITICS in Lithuania 

Latest Update: 10/25/04

For current political and other happenings in Lithuania also see "News from Lithuania" page.

Ruling Coalition Drops One Of Their Principal Partners (4/14/06)

On April 11, after sixteen month behind door political bickering and backstabbing, the four-party ruling coalition collapsed when the parliament by 94 to 11 no confidence vote removed its chairman Arturas Paulauskas, the leader of the "New Union" party (Social Liberals), one of the coalition partners.  Immediately the "New Union" party leadership caucus decided to pull out of the coalition and to resign from all  parliamentary and government positions.

It appears that, although the vote was initiated and organized by the opposition conservatives, the margin required for removal of the chairman  came from coalition "Labor" party members.  It is an open secret that  Victor Uspaskich the leader of the "Work " (Labor) party is striving to become the next Prime Minister.  However, there are no signs that this will result in the immediate fall of the government or a new election.  A revised agreement was signed by the three remaining coalition parties.  The "Work" party is expected to get the parliamentary and government positions vacated by the Social liberals.

It is curious that the extraordinary involvement and direct participation of the "Work" party's leader V. Uspaskich's in the internal deliberations and decisions of the Parliament and the country's government in this and other matters in the past, has been tolerated by the political and judicial establishment.  Mr. Uspaskich is not an elected, or appointed member of the parliament or the government and, thus, is not bound by either oath, or duty , to  serve in the best interest of the country.  He is just a leader of a political party to oversee the party affairs and organization, but not those of the country itself.  In addition, he is a businessman whose business is, or can be affected by actions of the government.  As it is now, he appears to be in position not only to influence but to directly affect such government actions. 

2004 Parliamentary (Seimas) Election Results

* Seats won in the single member district Runoff elections  held on October 24, 2004

USPAKICH RESIGNS under a cloud of conflicts of interest (7/10/05)

Viktoras Usapaskichas, facing conflict of interest charges and  investigations by the High Commission on Governmental Ethics and Special Parliamentary Commission, resigned last week from his ministerial post and the Parliament.  However, as he is retaining his position as Chairman of "Work (Darbo)" party, major coalition government partner, he is expected to continue to be a major player in Lithuanian government and politics.  Kestutis Dauksys, also member of "Work" party,  has been appointed to replace him as Minister for National Resources.

Who is Victor USPAKICH ? (10/1/04)

Victor Uspakich, the leader of the populist "Work (Darbo) Party", which according the polls is projected to become the largest block in the next Parliament, was born on July 24,1959 in  small town of Undoma, Archangelsk Region, Russia.  His father was a Russian forestry worker.  After completing the middle school in Undoma, in 1976 he started working for the "Northern Lights" state oil and gas lines construction company.  In 1977 he was called up for service in the Russian  army.  After completing two years of army service, he returned back to work as a welder for the "Northern Lights".  Sometime in the 1980's  he married a Russian woman with whom he had a son and a daughter (marriage date and wife's name does not appear in his official bio).  As the construction work carried him all across the Soviet Union, the family did not have a permanent home and lived at the sites on construction in trailers.

In 1985 he was sent to then Soviet Lithuanian Republic to work on gas pipeline project in Panevezis area. After several months he was dispatched to Finland, but soon returned back to continue work on the Lithuanian project.  In 1987 he was appointed to take charge of gas line extension project to city of Kedainiai. 

After Lithuania's declaration of independence he remained in Lithuania and became Lithuanian citizen.  His wife with children were sent back to live in Belarus.  In 1990 he started his first business, a private (closed) stock company "Efektas", which in 1993 became part of closed stock company "Vikonda " conglamorate.   Until 1996 Uspaskich served as the director of that firm and then took the title of the President of "Vikonda".  In 2000 "Vikonda" operated several merchandising outlets and had about 4000 employees.  He is currently president of Lithuania's Trade Employers Confederation.

After divorcing his first wife, he married a Lithuanian native Jolanta Blazyte, who currently works for "Vikonda" as the company's Director of Commercial Operations. In 2000 he was elected to the Parliament (Seimas) from Kedainiai district and became a member of ruling coalition by joining the "Social Liberal Party" faction.  He was awarded chairmanship of the Economics Committee.  However, in October 2003 he split from Social Liberals and began organizing his own "Work (Darbo) Party".

According to his official bio he studied economics at the Moscow Agricultural Institute, receiving economist specialty in 1993, and at Kaunas Technology Institute.  There he completed Masters program in 1999 and is continuing studies as doctoral candidate.

According to the required declaration, as of July 29, 2004, Uspaskich family assets consisted of:

Registered assets (real-estate, other property): 2,437,164 Litas (approx. $855,145.); Personal Property (including securities): 37,229,468 Litas ( approx. $13,062,971.); Cash and cash deposits: 3,638,000 Litas (approx. $1,276,491.); Loans receivable: 5,921,221 Litas (approx. $2,077,621);  Debts outstanding: None.

2004 Parliamentary (Seimas) Elections. (9/18/04)

Following are the political parties participating in the election and submitted their lists of nominees for the 70 seats elected in "multi-candidate" (party list) and 71 seats in "single-mandate" (district candidate) voting.  Number of of candidates nominated by the parties are shown in parentheses.

Lithuanian Freedom League (31); National Center Party (31); Farmers and New Democracy Party Union (115); Republican Party (27); Work Party (140); A.Brazauskas and A.Paulauskas Coalition (Lithuanian Socialdemocratic Party and Social Liberal Party) (140); Fatherland Union (Conservatives, Political Prisoners & Deportees and Christian Democrats) (101); Rolandas Paksas Coalition "For order and justice" (Liberal Democrat party and Lithuanian Peoples Union " For just Lithuania") (136); National Party Lithuania's Way (24); Lithuania's Socialdemocrat Union (30); Liberal's and Center Union (141); Lithuania' Polish Election Action (128); Lithuanian Nationalist Union (31); Christian Conservatives Social Union (41); Lithuania's Christian Democrats (71).

In addition, three other political parties nominated candidates to run in "single-mandate district elections". They are "Young Lithuania"  and New Nationalist Union (in 5 districts); Lithuania's Polish Peoples Party (in 9 districts); and Lithuania's Russian Union (in 12 districts).  Forty-five (45) additional candidates are also running without any party endorsement (self-nominated) in 36 electoral districts.

It should be noted that there is no requirement that the party nominated candidates nominated run in "single-mandate district" election be residents of that district. Furthermore these candidates usually are also listed as candidates on the party "multi-member elections" list.  Thus,  such candidate can loose in the district his running in and still gain a parliamentary seat based on his party's showing in the "multi-candidate district election". 

Due to the above nominating system it is not surprising that recent polls show that 36.7% of residents did not know who was the member of  the Parliament elected in their district ("Omni" 9/15/04).

"Darbo (Work)" Party is poised to become Majority Party in the next Parliament (8/3/04)(rev.9/10/04)

Encouraged by its success by the the results for the seats in the EU Parliament, the Work Party, formed, financed and led by an expatriate Russian national millionaire V. Uspackich, is now poised to become the largest Parliamentary Party in the next parliament.  The parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 10, 2004*.  The party won five of the thirteen seats Lithuania is allocated in Parliament of the European Union.  The party, created less than a year ago, received 30.16% of valid voted cast at that election.  Latest polls indicate that as of July the Work Party with populist social agenda is viewed favorably by 35% of nation's voters. In addition, according to this poll, as reported by "Lietuvos Rytas", the premier national newspaper, more than 25% of population express no confidence in any of the political parties.

This has raised great concerns to the mainstream political political parties and politicians   To avoid potential clean sweep by the Work party in the upcoming parliamentary election, the current parliament reinstituted a two tour election in the 71 single member districts.  Under the revised election procedures candidate in the single member district election is considered elected if in the initial balloting, with 40% of eligible electorate voting, receives more than 50% of the ballots cast.  If less than 40% registered voters participate in the election, the candidate who received the most votes is elected if the number of votes received by the candidate is not less than 20% of all registered voters in the district.  In the run-off election the candidate receiving largest number of votes wins, regardless of  of voter participation.

This two-tour election system was in force for the 1992 and 1996 parliamentary elections, but was eliminated prior to the 2000 election by then Conservative- Christian Democrat parliamentary majority over the veto by then President V. Adamkus. 

Mr. Uspackich, the leader of the Work Party, was born in Archangelsk Region of Russia to to a family of foresters.  He first arrived to Lithuania in 1985 to work on the construction of a gas pipeline system in Panevezis region.  After Lithuania regained its independence, he remained in Lithuania and received Lithuanian citizenship.  In 2000 he was elected to the Parliament as Social Democrat, but in 2003 broke-off from the now ruling coalition to form the "Darbo (Work)" Party.

Political Crisis ends with Election and Inauguration of V. Adamkus (8/1/04)

Presidential election was held on June 13, 2004, with 5 candidates vying for the post of President of the Republic of Lithuania.  The impeached and removed from office former President R. Paksas did not participate as he has been barred for life from holding any elective office. 1,285,067 (48.40%) of eligible voters participated in the election.  39,707 (3.09%) of the ballots cast were found to be invalid.  The election results were as follows:

Valdas Adamkus  387,839 votes (31.14%); Kazimiera Danute Prunskiene 264,681 votes (21.25%); Petras Austrevicius 240,413 votes (19.30%); Vilija Blinkeviciute 204,819 votes (16.45%); and Ceslovas Jursenas 147,610 votes (11.85%).

As no candidate received majority of of votes a run-off election was schedule and held on June 27th between the two top vote getters.  1,395,103 (52.46%) of eligible voters participated in this election.  Valdas Adamkus was declared winner with 52.65% of valid votes cast to 47.35% for Kazimiera Danute Prunckiene.

Upon being elected Valdas Adamkus asked  current Prime Minister A. Brazauskas to remain in office.  The Interim President A. Paulauskas returned to his previous position as the Chairman of the Parliament.

Lithuania Elects Delegates to EU Parliament (8/1/04)

On 13th of June in addition to voting for the next President of the Republic, Lithuanians cast their votes to elect thirteen members to the European Parliament to a five year term.  Twelve party or coalition tickets with total of 242 candidates were presented to the voters.  1,284,050 (48.38%) of eligible voters cast their ballots for the vying slates.  76,980 (6.0%) were voided as invalid.  Following are the results: Work Party 30.16% of valid votes; Lithuanian Socialdemocrat Party 14.43%; Fatherland Union (conservatives, political prisoners and deportees, modern Christian democrats) 12.58%; Liberal's and Center Union 11.23%; Farmers and New Democracy Union 7.41%; Liberal Democrat Party 6.83%;  Lithuanian Polish and Lithuanian Russian Coalition 5.71%; New Union (Social Liberals) 4.85%; Lithuania's Christian Democrats 2.75%; Conservative Christian Social Union 2.57%; Nation's Progress Party 1.18%; and National Center Party 0.30-%.

Declared to be elected on the Work Party slate are Sarunas Birutis, Danute Budreikiene, Arunas Degutis, Jolanda Dickute, and Ona Jukneviciene.  Justas Vincas Paleckis and Aloyzas Sakalas were elected on Socialdemocrat ticket; Laima Liucija Andrikiene and Vytautas Lansbergis on Fatherland Union ticket;  Gintaras Didziokas on Farmers and New Democracy Union ticket; Eugenijus Gentvilas and Margarita Starkeviciute on Liberal and Center Union slate; and Rolandas Pavilionis on Liberaldemocrat Party slate.

Political crisis is still far from being over (4/18/04)

The 5-6 month political crisis at first glance seems to be over with the orderly and legally sustainable removal of President R. Paksas from office.  R. Paksas had won the presidency with a massive financial support of Russian interests (commercial, Mafia, and Russian security services) and, thus, he was deeply indebted and  under constant pressure to live up to his commitment to these interests.  These Russian interests had invested more than million dollars (US) for his election.  His rather obvious attempts to repay his debt to his financial supporters was discovered and publicized by the free Lithuanian press and, within less than a year in office, calls for his impeachment and removal from office began to be raised.

It is obvious that with pending ascension of Lithuania into NATO and European Union, the various Russian entities and interests were interested in establishing  a solid and secure base within the this block.  To achieve this goal a favorable climate needed to be assured and what better way to achieve this than placing the country's political leadership in their debt.

The implementation of "Plan A" is still far from over.  It is believed that R. Paksas did not resign, as he was urged by some, and continued on until he was voted out, because he was not allowed to do so by his handlers.  He wows to regain the office of the President in the upcoming and he may succeed if the major political parties do not unite to back a single candidate.  Sad fact is that this, at least for initial round of balloting will not happen.  Thus, R. Paksas, still retaining about 28% of voter support and claiming no wrongdoing and being victim of his political enemies, has a good chance of getting into run-off round.  Then it will depend on who his opponent turns out and if that opponent will be able to obtain full backing and support of all major political parties.

In addition to above, concerns are starting to rise within the political circles about the sudden and rapid rise of yet another new political party --- Labor Party, organized and well funded by a self-made millionaire businessman turned politician V. Uspaskich.  It's populist message calling for "change" is being well received by the same voters who elected Paksas in previous elections.  Mr. Uspackich was born in Archangelsk Region of Russia to to a family of foresters.  He first arrived to Lithuania in 1985 to work on the construction of a gas pipelne system in Panevezis region.  After Lithuania regained its independence, he remained in Lithuania and received Lithuanian citizenship.  He speaks fluent Lithuanian. Mr. Uspackich, a welder by trade, made his millions by selling scrap metal from Russia to the West.  The concerns are that this new party in the next fall's parliamentary elections will win enough seats to become a key player, if not a coalition partner, in the formation of new government.  

Six Months makes a big difference in Lithuanian Politics (3/04)

Only six moths ago Lithuanian President R. Paksas was enjoying favorable opinion of 70.8% of electorate.   Now is down practically to nothing due to revelations that key presidential advisors and allegedly President himself had ties and received support from Russian nationals connected with Russian mafia and Russian security service elements. Jurias Borisov, head of "Avia Baltika" firm, who is suspected of being involved with Muscovite company "Almax" and internationally known for being a Mafia front,  was the largest contributor to R.Paksas presidential campaign, contributing more than a million Lithuanian Litas.  Until the time when the facts starting to surface he was a frequent and welcome visitor to presidential offices.

It appears that the mafia elements were unhappy with the crackdown undertaken taken by the Lithuanian National Security Department in last couple of years against their international smuggling operations.  It appears that this was the main reason  why Mr. Borisov used his influence and ties with the Presidents National Security Advisor to try to attempt removal of certain government officials, among them the head of National Security Police, and replace them with corrupted, or corruptible officials.

In November 2003, a Special Parliamentary Commission was appointed to investigate the allegations and charges of wrong-doing by the Office of the President.  The Commission by mid March unanimously found that all six charges made against the President for actions taken in violation of Country' Constitution and the Presidential oath of office were valid and serious to justify his impeachment.  Thereupon, the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas), day after receipt of the final report of the Special Commission, voted 62 to 11, with 3 abstentions, to proceed with the impeachment trial of Country's President R. Paksas and to request the Constitutional Court for their opinion regarding the alleged actions of the President.   The Commission appointed five of its members as prosecutors to represent the Commission during the impeachment trial. 

The impeachment trial is to start any day now.  The outcome cannot be predicted, but the President enjoys only little support in the Parliament.

The impeachment and removal of the President from office is not expected to create political instability, or major changes.  In such case A. Paulauskas, the chairman of the Parliament, would take over the Presidency in the interim period until new election,  and it is expected that he would reappoint Prime Minister A. Brazauskas and his current government to continue on.

The worst post-presidential election fears did not materialize

The unexpected election of A.Paksas resulted in no visible changes in government policies and direction.  If anything, the position of the country's Premier A. Brazauskas and his party's, Social Democrats, has become much stronger.  The country is moving on the fast track to becoming member of European Union and NATO.

2003 Elections - Analysis and Commentary (1/30/03)

 It is feared that the unexpected results of the presidential elections held in December ‘02 – January ‘03 might plunge the country into a two-year period of political confrontation, instability, turmoil and major realignments.  Victory of A. Paksas, who campaigned as a candidate for change and on other populist issues, raises questions of what changes he has in mind and by what means he intends to achieve them.  There is little doubt that the electorate was anxious about the current government’s domestic and economic policies and desired changes, but does his victory mean popular repudiation of the current foreign policy goals and achievements for rapid integration into the European Union?  During the campaign Mr. Paksas did express reservations about the agreement reached, under the leadership of the current president, for entry of Lithuania into the EU.  The referendum on joining the EU is scheduled for June.  Now, the outcome in favor of joining can no longer be considered as certain.

 The West European press greeted Mr. Paksas election with considerable skepticism and caution, describing him as a radical populist and even equating him to France’s radical politician J. M. Le Penne.  The Russian press likened him to their Zirinovski.  This may be an overstatement but, considering A. Paksas political past, it is a reasonable assumption.  Mr. Paksas is, as Lithuanian politicians go, a young, 46 year old, rather flamboyant, unpredictable, pilot by training,  businessman and, of course, a politician.  On the campaign trail he would arrive for appearances in towns and villages in his helicopter, with himself at the controls.  His political history is rather curious, marked by number of rises and falls from position of power and shifts in alliances.

 Mr. Paksas political rise and reputation started with his election as Mayor of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.  He received high marks for transforming the capital from dreary and dire looking soviet city into a bustling metropolis.  In 1999, based on his reputation as an effective leader gained as the Mayor of Vilnius, he was elevated by then ruling Homeland Union (Lithuanian Conservatives) into a position of the Prime Minister to head the country’s government.  This lasted only a month or so.  As the Prime Minister he refused to sign a negotiated agreement with Williams International that was backed by his party leadership and the country’s President to run the state owned oil refinery and abruptly resigned.   He switched his allegiance to Lithuanian Liberal Union and in 2000 was elected to the parliament.  A coalition government was formed with Mr. Paksas as the Prime Minister.  This time he lasted several months.  The coalition collapsed largely due inability by  Mr. Paksas led Liberals to agree with their coalition partners on government’s program and priorities.  Mr. Paksas was ousted not only from government’s, but also party’s leadership.

 Immediately, Mr. Paksas with several of his followers in the parliament formed a new party, the Lithuanian Liberal Democrats Party, with him as the party’s chairman.

 This indicates that over the years much animosity and mistrust has been built up between the mainline parties and Mr. Paksas.  In this election, outside his own party, he had support of only the left-of-the-center Farmers party and a small centrist party, the Modern Christian Democrats.  All others parties on the left and the right supported Mr. Adamkus.  Thus, his support in the parliament is miniscule, in single numbers, which may even further decrease when his supporters in the parliament resign to join his staff at the presidential palace.  His and other, vacated by his supporters, seats will be filled by special election to be held in June.

New parliamentary elections are not due for another two years.  Without strong support in the parliament and considering very limited powers of the Presidency, it will be very difficult for Mr. Paksas to fulfill the many promises made during the campaign.  His apparent stubbornness and unwillingness to compromise could create in chaotic legislative stalemates and even total collapse of the government.

 In the simultaneously held Local Council elections Mr. Paksas Liberal Democrats Party did fairly, but not overwhelmingly, well.  It captured 8.17% of seats mainly at the expense of A. Paulauskas’ left-wing New Union (Social Liberals), the current coalition partners of the Social Democratic Party in the present government.  However, this does not mean that the left wing is weakening.  The two coalition parties still captured 30.23% of local council seats.  The poor performance by the Social Liberals more likely will lead to a closer union of these two leftist parties.

 The main center and rightist parties came through the elections with only minor deterioration of their party strengths in the local councils.  The two centrist parties, Lithuanian Center Union and Lithuanian Liberal Union, captured 20.26% of the seats and the two rightist parties, Homeland Union (Lithuanian Conservatives) and Lithuanian Christian Democrats, captured 19.81%.

 Thus, looking forward to the next parliamentary elections, the Farmers Party, which garnered 12.18% of local council seats and was the only major party supporting the newly elected president, together with the president’s Liberal Democrats, may end up to be the power brokers in forming the next government two year from now.

***************************

The  Presidential and the local government elections were held on December 22, 2002.  Seventeen aspirants for the Presidency had filed with the Board of Elections and had been issued nominating petitions.  All of them returned the nominating petitions with minimum of 20,000 signatures by November 7 in order to get on the ballot. The aspiring candidates and the votes received by them were: 

1. Vytenis Andriukaitis, nominee of the Social Democrat Party (LSDP).  Vice-chairman of the National Legislature (Seimas).  Age: 51. Votes received: 104,529 (7.35%).
2. Eugenijus Gentvilas, nominee of Liberal Union Party(LLS).  President of public organization “Liberal Reforms”.  Age: 42. Votes received: 43,959 (3.09%)
3. Rolandas Paksas, nominee of Liberal Democrat Party (LDP).  Member of the National Legislature (Seimas).  Age: 46.  Votes received: 281,819 (19.82%)
4. Algirdas Pilvelis, independent.  Publisher of  national circulation newspaper “Lietuvos Aidas”.  Age: 58.  Votes received: 2,049 (0.14%)
5. Vytautas Serenas, independent.  Producer of television comedy program “Dviracio Zinios”.  Age: 43.  Votes received: 111,101 (7.81%)
6. Vytautas Sustauskas, independent.  Member of the National Legislature (Seimas).  Age: 57.  Votes received: 5,303 (0.37%)
7. Vytautas Matulevicius, independent.  Journalist.  Age: 50.  Votes received: 26,580 (1.87%)
8. Algimantas Matulevicius, independent.  Member of the National Legislature (Seimas).  Age: 54.  Votes received: 31,778 (2.23%)
9. Kestutis Gleveckas, nominee of the Center Union party (LCS).  Member of the National Legislature (Seimas).  Age: 53.  Votes received: 7,407 (0.52%)
10. Vytautas Bernatonis, independent.  Businessman.  Age: unknown. Votes received: 3,505 (0.25%)
11. Rimantas Dagys, nominee of “Socialdemocracy 2000” party (S-2000). Age: 45.  Votes received: 1,233 (0.09%)
12. Kazimiera Prunskiene, nominee of  Peasants and the New Democracy parties (VNDPS).  Member of the National Legislature (Seimas).  Age: 59.  Votes received: 71,804 (5.05%)
13. Kazys Bobelis, nominee of Christian Demokrats party(LCD), Member of the National Legislature (Seimas).  Age: 78.  Votes received: 27,225 (1.91%)
14. Valdas Adamkus, independent.  Current President of the Republic of Lithuania.  Age:76. Votes received: 502,072 (35.31%)
15. Juozas Petraitis, independent.  Businessman.  Age 45. Votes received: 53,568 (3.77%)
16. Julius Veselka, independent. Member of the National Legislature(Seimas). Age:59.  Votes received: 31,888 (2.24%)
17. Arturas Paulauskas, nominee of  New Union (socialliberal) party [NS(S)],  Chairman of the      National Legislature (Seimas).  Age: 49.  Votes received: 118,943 (8.36%)

As none of the above received majority of votes cast, a runoff election was held on January 5, 2003 between the two top vote getters: Valdas Adamkus and Rolandas Paksas.  The winner was Rolandas Paksas with 54.91%.

***********************

There are a total of 60 local government Councils in Lithuania with 1560 elected members.  The Council members of each of the government administrative regions (cities and\or counties) from among themselves elect the mayors and other local administrative officials.  The voting is by lists submitted by parties, or coalition of parties, with the number of seats distributed to the parties, receiving required minimum percentage votes, based on percent of votes cast for the list.  Thus, normally only  the candidates listed on top of such lists are elected.  For this 2002 election there are about 10,000 candidates submitted by 25 parties and 20 coalition groups for a total of 1560 seats on these Councils. 

The results of the local elections have been compiled and the data is presented in the last table of this  web page. 

This year it is not the presidential election, but these local elections will indicate the direction the country is going.  Currently 25% of the local governments are controlled by the leftist  Lithuanian Socialdemocrat party (LSDP) of the current Prime Minister A. Brazauskas.  As voting is by party lists, a shift in this percentage will be an indicator of the level of support for his government and an early indicator for the parliamentary elections to be held 2004.  Also, one should watch for gains, if any, by the Homeland Union (Lithuanian Conservatives) and Lithuanian Christian Democrats, partners in the governments in the 1990's, and by other right-of-center parties.

This election was expected to cost 13,5 million Litas (about $13.5 million).  Most of it (9.5 mil. Lt.) is for paying for 20,000 election commission workers  The remainder is to cover the costs of free television and radio time for the presidential candidates, printing candidate lists, informational bulletins, and voting by mail expenses.  Each of the candidates for the president received 5,000 Litas for printing of their election program literature. One presidential candidate, upon his request, is receiving security protection.

 It is interesting to note that 81 out of 141 current members of Parliament were also seeking seats on the local councils. This is raising a controversy which is will have to be resolved by the Constitutional Court.  Also it is interesting that the Lithuanian election laws prohibits all electioneering not only on the day of election, but 24 hours before opening of polling places.

*****************************   

Prior to elections parties attempt to form coalition slates around then more popular parties led by "Name" leaders.  For 2000 Seimas the country's leftist parties formed a single slate around  the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party with ex-President A. Brazauskas lending his name to the this coalition slate of candidates.  For  1999 local elections  Lithuanian Farmers ran coalition slates with Christian Democratic Union, a minor party, but whose leader Dr. J. Bobelis is  a "Name" being one of the country's most popular and trusted politicians.   The results of both of these elections, show the influence of a "Name" persona.  It also works the other way as shown by the dramatic losses by the Lithuanian Conservatives in 2000 elections, largely due to precipitous drop in popularity of its leader Dr. Lansbergis.  Thus, an inference can be made that the Lithuanian electorate largely votes for the individuals heading the slates and not necessarily for the the parties, their platforms, or what they stand for.

POLITICAL PARTIES 

  PARTY PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS, VOTES RECEIVED, SEATS WON

Total number of eligible voters for 1996 Seimas elections: 2,597,530.  Cast ballots for Party/Coalition slates: 1,374,673(52.92%)

Total number of eligible voters for 2000 Seimas elections: 2,614,782.  Cast ballots for Party/Coalition slates:  1,534,081(58.67%)