The results of European elections in Lithuania
The main result of EP elections in Lithuania could be summed up as a pro-EU anti right-wing populism victory. None of the anti-EU agencies got any seats in the EU parliament. The very high turnout (53.08%) was a result of the second round of very popular Presidential election, but also of understanding, that these are very important elections for European unity.
Voices of the left electorate have been divided between social democrats, peasant-greens and an electoral committee of “Aušra Maldeikienė train“.
Social democrats suffered a painful blow in 2017, when the part of the party (mainly ex-nomenclature politicians) split from the main party and founded a new party. However, it looks the ideological renewal for LSDP is gaining new strength. After a blow in March, where LSDP lost all the main cities (in Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipeda LSDP didn’t cross 4% barrier and, also in a first round of Presidential elections LSDP candidate Vytenis Andriukaitis came 4th (with only 4,76% of votes), in EP elections LSDP received 200 thousand votes and came second in elections (after conservatives). Two elected candidates of LSDP- Vilija Blinkevičiūtė and Juozas Olekas – will join S&D group in EP.
Peasants-Greens came in 3d position with only 11.92% of votes. This shows a rapid decline of their popularity since the General elections in 2016. 2 elected MEP‘s Bronis Ropė and Stasys Jekeliūnas will join The Greens/European Free Alliance in EP. The most progressive and active leftist candidate on the parties list Tomas Tomilinas came 4th with 29 thousand votes.
Electoral committee “Aušra Maldeikienė train“ won 1 seat for Aušra Maldeikienė, who herself by her political leaning is a Christian democrat, but there were some leftists activists on her list (like Alina Andronova). By this and also by declaring tolerance towards various minority groups this committee attracted votes from some progressive groups, who wouldn’t vote for LSDP or Peasants. A. Maldeikienė is considering to join either Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) or some Green’s alliance.
Overview of the electoral results
a) Voters turnout also in comparison with the European-elections 2014
53.08 % of voters
2014- 47.31%
b) Overall results and results of single parties/also numbers of seats in comparison with the European-elections 2014
1. TS-KD Conservatives-Christian democrats 18.60%, 3 seats (2014 16,42 % 2 seats)- gained 1 seat
2. LSDP Social democrats 15,07%, 2 seats (2014 - 16.32%, 2 seats) – retained status quo, however, due to high turn up LSDP raised 200 thousand voices. In comparison- local elections 2019 february they got 156 thousand.
3. LVŽS Peasants-greens 11,92%, 2 seats (2014 – 6,25%, 1 seat) - gained 1 seat, but lost theor position as a leading party over all
4. DP Labour party 8,54%, 1 seat (2014 12,12%, 1 seat) – populist party, retained status quo in relations to seats, even though his legal immunity has been removed by EP in previous term, due tot he court case on political fraud allegations.
5. LRLS Liberals 6,20%, 1 seat (2014 15.6% 2 seats) – lost 1 seat, however, it is surprising they got through at all, as there is a largest political corruption case agains the party undergoing.
6. VKM-AMT 6,10%, 1 seat (2014- did not exist) electoral comitee „Ausra Maldeikiene train“.
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