Incumbent president Gitanas Nauseda has won the first round of voting in Lithuania’s presidential election, but fell short of an overall majority, leading to a run-off against rival Ingrida Simonyte on May 26. The focus of the campaigns largely centered around security issues and the threat posed by neighboring Russia. Both candidates agree on increasing defense spending to counter the perceived threat on Lithuania’s borders. Nauseda expressed confidence in winning the run-off against Simonyte and highlighted his support for modernizing the country’s army and infrastructure ahead of the deployment of German troops in 2027. The candidates also differ on other issues such as same-sex civil partnerships, with Nauseda opposing and Simonyte supporting. The president of Lithuania has a semi-executive role, influencing foreign and security policy, among other responsibilities. In the 2019 election, Nauseda defeated Simonyte in the run-off and now faces her as a main challenger in the upcoming general election in October. The race is expected to be closely contested as Simonyte’s coalition of center-right parties trails in the polls. Nauseda has expressed optimism about finding common ground with potential coalition partners, including the Social Democrats. Overall, the election results signal a continued focus on national security and defense issues as Lithuania navigates its relationship with Russia and prepares for future challenges.
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