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Polls Open for Runoff in Parliamentary Election in Lithuania

by VOA News

   Lithuanians are heading to the polls for runoffs in parliamentary
   elections that may give the opposition a chance to govern after four
   years of rule by a coalition led by Social Democrats.
   The second round is a runoff for 68 of the 141 seats in parliament.
   In the first round two weeks ago, the conservative Homeland Union
   secured 20 seats, closely followed by the centrist Lithuanian Peasants
   and Green Union party with 19 seats, leaving the current government
   party in third place with 13 seats. A few smaller parties also won some
   seats.
   Lithuania's opposition Homeland Union hopes to capitalize on voters'
   dissatisfaction with low wages and labor exodus from their Baltic
   eurozone state.
   Some voters say ruling Social Democrats "blew their chances" and would
   like to see a coalition led by the conservative Homeland Union.
   Experts say the current government is failing to revitalize the
   nation's economy that is still struggling to be on the same level as
   richer countries in Europe.
   Sunday's election for the remaining 68 seats is expected to be a close
   race where reports say no single party is likely to end up with a
   majority in parliament.
   The biggest of the three Baltic countries, Lithuania regained
   independence from Soviet rule in the early 1990s and joined the
   European Union in 2004. Since then, approximately 370,000 people have
   left the country and an estimated 50 percent of those moved to Britain.
   The long-ruling Social Democratic-led government of Prime Minister
   Gediminas Kirkilas and opposition parties are promising to raise living
   wages in the country of 2.9 million.