Lithuania’s Social Democrats defeat conservatives in parliamentary elections

Lithuania’s centre-left Social Democrats (SD) emerged as the clear leaders in the country’s second round of parliamentary elections on Sunday 27 October, securing an initial 52 out of 141 seats, according to preliminary results.

Voters were electing 63 constituency MPs under Lithuania’s mixed electoral system. Turnout was 41.31% of just over 2mn registered voters in the 2nd round significantly lower than the 52% in the 1st round of voting 2 weeks ago, according to the Central Electoral Commission (VRK). A total of 78 out of 141 MPs were elected in the first round.

Lithuania’s political landscape lurches left

Sunday’s outcome marks a significant shift toward the centre-left, moving away from the conservative Homeland Union Party, which has held power under outgoing prime minister Ingrida Simonyte and trails with 28 seats.

SD leader Vilija Blinkeviciute said on Sunday that she “very much” wants to form a ruling coalition of three centre-left parties, hopefully by Monday evening.

“I would like it very much because everything is really at the will of the voters and people will decide,” Blinkeviciute said, adding that “it would be good if three parties were enough to form a coalition because it is still necessary to coordinate with each other the programmatic provisions, to draw up a government programme, a plan of measures, as well as in the Seimas to lay out joint work.”

After the election defeat, Homeland Union Party chairman Gabrielius Landsbergis, who has served as Lithuania’s foreign minister since December 2020, said he plans to take a break from politics.

“The voters’ signal is quite clear, both for the party and me, and it would be a mistake not to hear it,” Landsbergis said on Monday. “Having heard the signal, which I take very seriously, I am deciding to step down today as chairman of the Homeland Union,” he added.

Campaign focussed on economy, defence

Regional security concerns and domestic economic pressures were key election issues, with Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and Lithuania’s proximity to Russia and Belarus. National security remains critical for Lithuanian voters and bolstered support for parties with firm defence policies.

Rising inflation and a sharp increase in living costs, exacerbated by the COVID:19 pandemic, meanwhile eroded public trust in the incumbent conservative administration.

Simonyte faced multiple crises over its four years in power, some of them natural, and others self-inflicted, local media wrote as she left office in the summer. A member of Homeland Union since 2022, having previously been an independent, Simonyte was twice a candidate in the presidential elections, in 2019 and 2024, but lost in the second round runoff to Gitanas Nauseda on both occasions.

Blinkeviciute tapped into this sentiment by voicing the public’s desire for social reform, reflecting an underlying discontent with the government’s handling of economic challenges.

The Social Democrats are now expected to form a coalition with two opposition parties — centre-left, green party For Lithuania DSVL (14 projected seats) and the centrist, agrarian Farmers and Greens Union LVZS (8) —suggesting a broad centre-left alliance may take shape in Lithuanian politics. Blinkeviciute’s election ticket prioritised social welfare, progressive taxation and strengthening social support systems.

Minor voting violations reported

Two pre-trial investigations were opened for obstruction of voters’ right to vote last week, Police Department spokesman Ramunas Matonis said on Sunday. “There are no serious irregularities today,” Matonis added, however.

Lithuania’s complex hybrid voting system—combining direct popular vote with runoff elections—adds a degree of uncertainty to the final parliamentary results. With additional runoff elections still to come, the SD’s current lead may evolve before full results are finalised.