Lithuanians elect new parliament amid cost of living, security worries

VILNIUS (Reuters) – Lithuanians elect a new parliament on Sunday in a vote dominated by concerns over the cost of living and potential threats from neighbouring Russia, with the opposition Social Democrats tipped to emerge as the largest party but well short of a majority.

The outgoing centre-right coalition of Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte has seen its popularity eroded by high inflation that topped 20% two years ago, by deteriorating public services and a widening gap between rich and poor.

Polling stations open at 7 am (0400 GMT) and close at 8 pm (1700 GMT). Results are expected after midnight local time.

Opinion polls suggest Simonyte’s Homeland Union will win just 9%, behind the Social Democrats on 18% and the anti-establishment Nemunas Dawn on 12%, though the eventual shape of a future coalition will depend on how smaller parties perform.

The Baltic state of 2.9 million people has a hybrid voting system in which half of the parliament is elected by popular vote, with a 5% threshold needed to win seats.

The other half is chosen on a district basis, a process which favours the larger parties.

If no candidate gets over 50% of the vote in a district, its top two candidates face each other in a run-off on Oct. 27.

Domestic issues have loomed large in the election campaign, with the Social Democrats vowing to tackle increased inequality by raising taxes on wealthier Lithuanians to help fund more spending on healthcare and social spending.

But national security is also a major concern in Lithuania, which is part of the eastern flank of NATO and the European Union and shares a border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad as well as with Belarus, a close Moscow ally.

Three quarters of Lithuanians believe that Russia could attack their country in the near future, a Baltijos Tyrimai/ELTA poll found in May.

The main parties strongly support Ukraine in its war with invading Russian forces and back increased defence spending.

(Reporting by Andrius Sytas in Vilnius; Editing by Gareth Jones)