Vilnius: Incumbent President Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte are poised to advance to the second round of the presidential race in Lithuania, according to preliminary results.
The latest data announced by Lithuania’s Central Electoral Commission showed that in the total 1,895 stations, Nauseda is in the lead with 44.94 percent of voters’ support, while Simonyte ranked second with 19.25 percent.
Nauseda and Simonyte, each falling short of the 50 percent threshold needed to secure the presidency in Sunday’s first round, have both declared their advancement to the runoff.
The runoff is set to be held on May 26.
“Yes, I wanted to win in the first round, but apparently we’ll have the runoff. I am ready to make a strong push for victory in the runoff and I think I will succeed in doing so,” Nauseda told reporters early Monday.
“My key goal was probably to make it to the runoff and I think I have achieved it,” Simonyte told media.
Ignas Vegele, a lawyer and candidate for the presidency, announced that he did not make it to the second round of the elections.
Lithuanians also voted on Sunday in a referendum on amending the constitution to allow dual citizenship.
