Lithuanian conservative parties will win October vote

Significance

Gitanas Nauseda won the second-round presidential election on May 26, 2019, by 67% to Ingrida Simonyte’s 33%. Both ran as independents; the opposition conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) backed Simonyte. Nauseda’s victory seems due to being a married practising Catholic in a conservative country, his greater distance from the political establishment and his opponent’s image as an unmarried and culturally liberal woman.

Impacts

• Relations with Poland will improve further despite unresolved issues, as Lithuania needs a stronger security and economic partner.
• Relations with China will be based on economic pragmatism.
• Lithuania will be more committed to promote EU climate policy, now that Virginijus Sinkevicius is the environment commissioner.