Lithuanians began voting yesterday in a presidential election expected to be won by EU budget commissioner Dalia Grybauskaite, at a time of deep economic recession and disenchantment with politicians.
The president’s role is non-executive and involves mainly overseeing foreign, defense and judicial policies.
But the incumbent can also influence the budget and has a say in government decisions, including after a presidential election, when the government has to resign and be re-appointed after consultations between the president and prime minister.
Grybauskaite, 53, a former finance minister, is widely expected to win in the first round, but may face a runoff to become the Baltic state’s first female president. Lithuania has already had a female prime minister in the early 1990s.
Grybauskait is running as an independent, which adds to her popularity as a tough-talking, competent leader, while the main political parties are widely disliked in the current downturn and after earlier corruption allegations.
If elected, she has pledged to help solve the economic crisis, notably a 12.6 percent drop in GDP in the first quarter.
A recent opinion poll gave her 60 percent support and her closest rival just 8.4 percent. Seven candidates are running.
Though broadly backing center-right Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius and his austerity measures to plug a widening budget deficit, she has criticized some tax rises and said she might replace some ministers.
“Grybauskaite is known to be a forceful character and she may choose a shakeup from the start,” said Kestutis Girnius, analyst at the Institute of International Relations and Political Sciences.
Grybauskaite has said Lithuania must stabilize its public finances, stimulate exports, absorb EU aid faster and provide tax breaks for small and medium-sized businesses. She is expected to try to improve ties with EU partners.
To win in the first round, a candidate must gain 50 percent of the votes with no less than a 50 percent turnout among the 2.67 million voters. If turnout is below 50 percent, a candidate needs backing from a third of all eligible voters.
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