Social Democrats Lead in Lithuania Election, Eye Coalition Government

The opposition party aims to form a coalition with left-leaning allies after winning the first round of parliamentary elections.

The Social Democrats secured 18 seats in the first round, narrowly surpassing the ruling Homeland Union party led by Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.
A second round of voting on October 27 will determine the remaining seats in the 141-seat Seimas, with coalition talks already underway.
Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, leader of the Social Democrats, plans to resign from her position as an MEP to potentially become Lithuania's next prime minister.
The election reflects a historic pattern of alternating political power in Lithuania, with no party winning consecutive terms since the 1990s.
Despite the potential shift in government, Lithuania's foreign policy, including its support for Ukraine and NATO, is expected to remain consistent.