13 June 2004
13 seats
Electoral system: party list system; proportional representation, threshold of 5
Lithuania, whose territory will consist of a single electoral constituency, has thirteen seats to fill for the European elections. Lithuanians, who will vote on 13 June, will have the choice between 244 candidates shared out between seven lists from the traditional parties and five lists from independent parties.
The Social Democrat Party LSDP, which forms the current government with the Social Liberals of the NS, has at the top of their list Vincas Justas Paleckis (72), a diplomat and Deputy Foreign Minister. He is followed by Gediminas Kirkilas (53), Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Irena Siauliene, Vice-President of the party.
The Social Liberal list of the NS, a very Europhile party, is headed by Antanas Valionis (54), the current Foreign Minister. In second place, there is Algirdas Monkevicius (48), the current Education Minister, with Kestutis Kuzmickas (45), a doctor, in third place.
The Liberal and Centrist Union LCS puts its president, Eugenijus Gentvilas (44), at the top of the list followed by Margarita Starkeviciute, an economist known for her frequent television appearances, and Regimantas Ciupaila (48), who teaches mathematics at a university.
The list of the Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) is headed by its president, Eugenijus Maldeikisu (44), the former Economy Minister, followed by Rolandas Pavilionis (60), an economist and rector of the largest university in Vilnius, and by Jonas Lionginas (48), an economist and former Finance Minister.
The LKD Christian Democrats in the opposition, are pinning their hopes on: - Algirdas Saudargas (56), former Foreign Minister; - Albertas Simenas (54), a deputy who has been famous since independence and who was Prime Minister during three days (10 to 13 January 1991); - and Ignas Vegele (29), a lawyer and university professor of law.
The list of the TS Conservative Party, also in the opposition, is headed by observer Vytautas Landsbergis (72), who was the first Head of State after independence and former President of the Lithuanian Parliament; Audrius Azubalis (46), a journalist; and Algirdas Antanas Avizienis (è2), specialised in information technology and engineering.
Kazimira Danute Prunskiene (61), Gintaras Didziokas (38), an observer, and Viktoras Rinkevicius (48) are first, second and third respectively on the list of the Party of Farmers' Trade Unions and in favour of a new VNDPS democracy.
The five other parties who are also taking part in the elections are: (1) DP (Labour Party); - Ona Junkneviciene (49), a qualified economist; - Arunas Degutis (46) expert on economy and finance; (2) LRS + LLRA (coalition of the Russian (LRS) and Polish (LLRA) minorities meeting under the slogan "Together we are strong": - Sergej Dmitrijev LRS (45), LRS President and history and English teacher; - Valdemar Tomasevski LLRA (39), engineer; (3) TPP (Party of National Progress): - Egidijus Klumbys (52), party President and parliamentarian; - Polandas Paulauskas (49); (4) NCP (National Centre Party): - Arunas Grumadas (53), parliamentarian; - Romualdas Grigas (68), sociologist; (5) KKSS (Christian Conservative Social Union): - Gediminas Vagnorius (47), parliamentarian; - and Stasys Sedbaras (46), former Interior Minister.