Lithuania is about to choose from among nine candidates to succeed the country's current head of state, President Dalia Grybauskaite. Leading probable candidates include Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis, former banking economist Gitanas Nauseda and former Finance Minister Ingrida Simonyte.
President Grybauskaite is required to step down after two-five year terms, as per the country's law. Besides voting for their president, citizens will also face a referendum on a constitutional amendment that would allow dual citizenship for hundreds of thousands of Lithuanians living abroad.
The elections will take place on May 26. On the same day, citizens will also vote for their EU parliament representatives and another referendum on reducing the number of lawmakers in the 141-seat Seimas assembly.
“Ten years ago, our country was severely affected by the financial crisis and fully dependent on Russian gas, with no real existing NATO defense plans,” Grybauskaite said.
Now Lithuania is a “strong and prosperous state” that has diversified its energy supply and like its Baltic neighbors, joined NATO as well as the European Union, she said.
