Lithuania opposition seeks to cement election win in run-off votes

27/10/2024 13:57

        Lithuanians head to the polls on Sunday to decide a parliamentary election dominated by concerns over the cost of living and potential threats from neighbouring Russia, with the opposition Social Democrats ahead after the first-round vote.
        
        The Baltic country of 2.9 million people has a hybrid voting system in which half of parliament is elected by popular vote. The rest is decided in district-based run-off votes between the top two candidates, a process which favours the larger parties.
        
        Polling stations open at 7 a.m. (0400 GMT) and close at 8 p.m. (1700 GMT). Results are expected at about midnight local time (2100 GMT).
        
        If the left-leaning Social Democrats (SD) succeed in forming a government, they are expected to maintain Lithuania's hawkish stance against Russia and hefty defence spending.