Nauseda secures victory in Lithuania's presidential race.
Voters placed their trust in Nauseda, whom he acknowledged by saying, "I'm aware that I must honor this great faith given to me." His previous five-year term in office will help him accomplish his mission for the welfare of the Lithuanian people. Upon learning the results, Simonyte gracefully conceded, saying, "I'd like to congratulate the newly-elected President of Lithuania."
In the first round of the presidential election, Nauseda secured 44% of the votes, falling short of the majority needed for an immediate win. Simonyte managed to garner 20%. Interestingly, Simonyte previously competed with Nauseda in a run-off election in 2019, but still lost.
The President in Lithuania is responsible for defense and foreign policy, and also represents the country in EU and NATO summits. It's important for this position to coordinate with the government and legislature when appointing top officials.
Mykolas Romeris University professor and political scientist, Rima Urbonaite, explained that "Gitanas Nauseda's re-election means we can expect consistency in Lithuania's foreign and security policies." In light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, these policies were the primary focus during the campaign season. Nauseda emphasized the need to safeguard Lithuania's independence and freedom, stating, "Lithuania's independence and freedom is like a delicate vessel we must preserve, shield, and keep unbroken."
Regarding defense spending, both candidates agree that it should be raised to even higher levels. Lithuania's current defense budget is already equal to 2.75% of its GDP. The extra funds will be allocated to acquire tanks and air defense systems. A permanent German brigade will be stationed in Lithuania to boost NATO's eastern frontier in response to the potential threat from Russia.
Concerns of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia about becoming Russia's targets are still prevalent, as Putin views these countries as belonging to Russia's "influence sphere." The trio joined the EU and NATO in 2004. Interestingly, Lithuania is among the top three backers of Ukraine, internationally, when measured by aid payments in relation to GDP, with 1.22%.
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Source: www.stern.de
