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==Electoral system==
==Electoral system==
{{main|Elections in Lithuania}}
{{main|Elections in Lithuania}}
===Changes before the elections===
===Changes recently the elections===
The 71 single-seat constituencies in Lithuania were drawn soon after independence, based on the principle that the number of voters in each constituency should be between 90 and 110 percent of the average number of voters per constituency. As the demographic situation changed, the law was adjusted to allow a deviation in the range from 80 and 120 percent, in order to avoid major changes to constituency boundaries.
The 71 single-seat constituencies in Lithuania were drawn soon after independence, based on the principle that the number of voters in each constituency should be between 90 and 110 percent of the average number of voters per constituency. As the demographic situation changed, the law was adjusted to allow a deviation in the range from 80 and 120 percent, in order to avoid major changes to constituency boundaries.


Revision as of 06:20, 6 September 2016

Lithuanian parliamentary election, 2016
← 2012 9 and 23 October 2016 2020 →
All 141 seats in the Seimas
71 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Algirdas Butkevičius Gabrielius Landsbergis Valentinas Mazuronis
Party LSDP TS–LKD DP
Last election 38 seats, 18.37% 33 seats, 15.08% 29 seats, 19.82%
 
Leader Rolandas Paksas Remigijus Šimašius Valdemar Tomaševski
Party TT LS LLRA
Last election 11 seats, 7.31% 10 seats, 8.57% 8 seats, 5.83%
 
Leader Jonas Varkala Ramūnas Karbauskis
Party DK Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union
Last election 7 seats, 7.99% 1 seats, 3.88%
Incumbent Prime Minister

Algirdas Butkevičius
LSDP



Politics of Lithuania
Coat of arms of Lithuania
Constitution
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations

Parliamentary elections will be held in Lithuania on 9 October 2016.

Background

The 2012 parliamentary elections were held on 14 October 2012, with the run-off on 28 October. The elections were won by the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania, which took 38 seats in the 141-member Eleventh Seimas.[1] Social Democrats were joined in the coalition government by Labour, Order and Justice and the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania. The Polish party withdrew from the government in 2014.[2]

The resulting government was headed by the leader of the Social Democrats, Algirdas Butkevičius, as the Prime Minister. Butkevičius, his government and the Social Democrats maintained very high approval ratings among the public until early 2016, when they were damaged by a corruption scandal related to construction in protected areas near Druskininkai.[3][4][5][6]

Electoral system

Main article: Elections in Lithuania

Changes recently the elections

The 71 single-seat constituencies in Lithuania were drawn soon after independence, based on the principle that the number of voters in each constituency should be between 90 and 110 percent of the average number of voters per constituency. As the demographic situation changed, the law was adjusted to allow a deviation in the range from 80 and 120 percent, in order to avoid major changes to constituency boundaries.

In October 2015, the Constitutional Court of Lithuania decided that the existing system, which allows the largest constituency to be as much as 50% larger than the smallest one, is unconstitutional, since it does not give sufficiently equal weight to all votes. The court stated that the constituencies should be redrawn in such a way that the number of voters in each constituency is between 90 and 110 percent of the average.[7]

The decision of the Constitutional Court was implemented in December 2015, when the new constituencies were announced. Major changes included two additional constituencies in Vilnius.[8][9] No other changes to the electoral system for these elections are planned.[10]

Opinion polls

Parties Won't vote Don't know No answer
LSDP TS-KD DP TT LRLS LLRA DK LVŽS ŽP Other
style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color"| style="background:Template:Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats/meta/color"| style="background:Template:Labour Party (Lithuania)/meta/color"| style="background:Template:Order and Justice/meta/color"| style="background:Template:Liberal Movement (Lithuania)/meta/color"| style="background:Template:Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania/meta/color"| style="background:Template:The Way of Courage/meta/color"| style="background:Template:Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union/meta/color"| style="background:Template:Lithuanian Green Party/meta/color"|
Last elections
Seats style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|38 33 29 11 10 8 7 1 - 3 - - -
PR vote, % 18.4 15.1 style="background:Template:Labour Party (Lithuania)/meta/color; color:white"|19.9 7.3 8.6 5.8 8.0 3.9 - 8.9 - - -
Polls by Vilmorus for Lietuvos Rytas
1–10 July 2016[11] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|14.2 10.8 7.0 5.5 5.9 2.6 - 12.0 2.5 1.6 14.9 21.6 2
3–10 June 2016[12] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|16.2 10.9 8.2 6.3 3.6 2.9 - 13.0 2.6 1.4 11.4 21.0 1.8
5–13 May 2016[13] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|16.2 8.9 8.2 5.3 8.9 2.8 - 12.5 2.4 0.5 13.8 18.3 2.2
6–15 April 2016[14] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|15.7 8.0 7.7 8.4 9.6 2.5 0.8 11.1 1.8 0.8 12.1 19.5 2.0
8–13 March 2016[15] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|21.2 10.2 7.9 7.7 10.4 3.2 0.3 7.1 2.3 0.5 11.3 18.1 1.8
11–19 February 2016[16] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|23.0 9.9 6.8 7.4 8.7 3.6 0.7 7.1 2.5 0.8 10.9 16.5 2.1
14–20 January 2016[17] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|20.7 9.1 7.7 7.7 9.6 3.6 0.2 5.9 1.4 0.6 11.8 18.5 3.2
4–11 December 2015[18] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|23.5 8.4 9.2 7.0 9.8 2.9 0.3 6.0 1.9 0.6 10.5 17.5 2.4
5–14 November 2015[19] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|24.3 9.9 9.2 7.8 11.0 2.7 0.1 6.3 1.6 0.9 10.7 13.7 1.8
Polls by "Spinter tyrimai" for Delfi.lt
19–26 July 2016[20] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|15.8 10.7 7.3 6.2 6.1 4.8 - 13.4 2.3 5.3 16.1 12.0
21–29 June 2016[21] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|16.8 10.5 7.6 7.5 6.3 4.3 - 12.2 2.3 5.3 14.3 12.9
19–26 May 2016[22] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|15.5 9.3 7.5 7.6 6.6 4.3 - 11.5 3.0 3.0 16.7 15.0
19–25 April 2016[23] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|17.2 7.5 7.1 8.0 15.5 4.5 - 11.3 2.1 2.0 14.1 10.7
15–25 March 2016[24] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|18.8 10.6 5.9 9.0 15.0 4.5 - 8.2 1.7 2.3 14.4 9.6
19–27 February 2016[25] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|19.6 10.5 7.0 7.4 14.2 4.8 - 6.6 2.0 1.6 15.4 10.9
20–27 January 2016[26] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|20.9 9.9 7.4 8.6 13.0 4.0 - 6.8 2.2 1.8 25.4 -
12–18 December 2015[27] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|23.0 9.5 7.0 8.5 13.5 4.0 - 5.5 1.8 3.0 16.5 7.7 -
16–23 November 2015[28] style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Lithuania/meta/color; color:white"|22.4 10.6 7.0 9.1 14.6 3.5 - 5.6 2.0 2.3 14.6 8.3 -

Election campaign

Announcement

On 7 April 2016 the President of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė, officially announced 9 October 2016 as the election date. The announcement, which came into effect on 9 April 2016, launched the election campaign, allowing the potential participants to register for the elections, raise funds and campaign in public.[29]

Campaign financing

In January 2016, the Central Electoral Commission announced the spending limits for political campaigns in 2016. A party participating in the elections in the nationwide constituency could spend a total of 770 thousand euros on the campaign. Participants in the election races in single-seat constituencies could spend between 18 and 22 thousand euros, depending on the size of the constituency. As a result, a political party with candidates in every single seat constituency could spend just over 2.2 million euros on its election campaign.[30]

Only citizens of Lithuania can contribute financially to the election campaigns. Each citizen can contribute up to 7,570 euros to a candidate, as long as their total contributions during the year do not exceed 10% of their stated annual income. A candidate can contribute up to 15,140 euros to their own election campaign.[31]

Participating parties

23 political parties are eligible to participate in the elections, having submitted their membership rolls before 1 March 2016, in compliance with legal requirements. The Social Democratic Party of Lithuania, the Labour Party, the Homeland Union, Order and Justice and the Liberal Movement were the largest parties based on the number of members.[32]

16 political parties registered for the elections before the deadline on 5 August 2016. 12 parties will participate in the elections independently, while the remaining 4 will form two separate electoral coalitions, bringing the total number of electoral lists to 14, down from 18 in 2012.[33][34] The electoral lists were assigned numbers in a random draw on 25 August.[35]

Number Electoral list/Participating parties
1 Social Democratic Party of Lithuania
2 Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats
3 Lithuanian Freedom Union (Liberals)
4 Coalition of S. Buškevičius and the Nationalists "Against corruption and poverty" Young Lithuania
Lithuanian Nationalist Union
5 Order and Justice
6 Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union
7 Liberal Movement
8 Labour Party
9 Way of Courage
10 Lithuanian People's Party
11 Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania-Union of Christian Families
12 Lithuanian Green Party
13 Political Party "Lithuanian List"
14 Anti-coruption coalition of Kristupas Krivickas and Naglis Puteikis Lithuanian Centre Party
Lithuanian Pensioners' Party

Debates

As before every elections, televised debates would take place on the national television channel. The debates are scheduled to take place over 4 weeks from 13 September to 6 October. Representatives from the 14 electoral lists were split into three groups for each week of debates, debating on different days of the week on the same topic. The topics for the four weeks of debates are: economy, demographics, justice and social policy.[36]

In May 2016, five political parties (the Social Democrats, the Liberal Movement, the Homeland Union, Labour and the Peasant and Greens Union) agreed to participate in the debates together, leaving out Order and Justice.[37] The agreement remained in place even after the corruption scandal involving the leader of the Liberal Movement, Eligijus Masiulis, and the subsequent slide in the party's ratings.[38]

References

  1. ^ "Leftward lurch". The Economist. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Vyriausybe apsivalė, V. Tomaševskio partija - už borto" [The government has cleaned up, the party of V. Tomaševski is overboard] (in Lithuanian). Lietuvos Rytas. August 26, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  3. ^ "Prieš ministrų skandalus Vyriausybės reitingai šoktelėjo iki aukščiausių istorijoje" [Before the ministerial scandals, the Government rating shot up to the highest in history] (in Lithuanian). Alfa.lt. ELTA. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Algirdo Butkevičiaus reitingai smigo žemyn" [Ratings of Algirdas Butkevičius went down] (in Lithuanian). Vakarų Ekspresas. BNS. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  5. ^ "Grybauskaite takes over Butkevicius in popularity polls". The Baltic Times. BNS. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Release of Tapped Calls Embroils Lithuania's Government in Controversy". Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Rinkėjų paskirstymas po apygardas prieštarauja Konstitucijai" [Distribution of voters across constituencies is unconstitutional]. Delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 20 October 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  8. ^ "Perbraižytos apygardos verčia partijas keisti rinkimų planus" [Changes to constituency borders force parties to change plans]. Delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 18 December 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  9. ^ "Two new electoral districts to be created in Vilnius". European Foundation of Human Rights. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Artėjantys Seimo rinkimai apsieis be drastiškų korekcijų" [Upcoming elections to the Seimas will do without drastic changes]. Delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 28 October 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  11. ^ "Už kurią partiją Jūs balsuotumėte rinkimuose į Seimą, jeigu rinkimai vyktų kitą sekmadienį?, %" [Which party would you vote in the elections to the Seimas, if the elections took place next Sunday?, %]. vilmorus.lt (in Lithuanian). 18 June 2016. Archived from the original on 30 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Reitingų smūgis liberalams: piliečiai nuosprendį jau surašė" [Ratings hit for the liberals: citizens have already written the verdict]. lrytas.lt (in Lithuanian). 18 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  13. ^ "Už kurią partiją Jūs balsuotumėte rinkimuose į Seimą, jeigu rinkimai vyktų kitą sekmadienį?, %" [Which party would you vote in the elections to the Seimas, if the elections took place next Sunday?, %]. vilmorus.lt (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  14. ^ "Politikos padangėje – žali debesys virš socialdemokratų" [In the political sky - green clouds over social democrats]. lrtytas.lt (in Lithuanian). 23 April 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  15. ^ "Skandalai labiausiai aptaškė K. Trečioką, kliuvo ir premjerui" [Scandals have stained K. Trečiokas, also touched the Prime Minister]. lrtytas.lt (in Lithuanian). 19 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  16. ^ "Socialdemokratai nesunaikinami, bet D. Grybauskaitės populiarumas – žemyn" [Social democrats are indestructible, but the popularity of D. Grybauskaitė is down]. delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 27 February 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  17. ^ "Už kurią partiją Jūs balsuotumėte rinkimuose į Seimą, jeigu rinkimai vyktų kitą sekmadienį?" [Which party would you vote for in the elections to Seimas, if they took place next Sunday]. vilmorus.lt (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  18. ^ "Už kurią partiją Jūs balsuotumėte rinkimuose į Seimą, jeigu rinkimai vyktų kitą sekmadienį?" [Which party would you vote for in the elections to Seimas, if they took place next Sunday]. vilmorus.lt (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  19. ^ "Piliečiai neskuba kalti prie kryžiaus ketvirčiuojamų politikų" [Citizens are in no hurry to crucify under-fire politicians]. lrytas.lt (in Lithuanian). 22 November 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  20. ^ "Reitingai: skaudžiausiai A. Butkevičiui kirto ne Darbo kodeksas" [Ratings: The new labor code was not the most painful hit for A. Butkevičius]. delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 17 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  21. ^ "Naujausi reitingai: socialdemokratų laukia sunkus pasirinkimas" [Recent poll: Social democrats facing a difficult choice]. delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 12 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  22. ^ "Pirmieji reitingai po kratų pas E. Masiulį – pokytis dramatiškas" [The first ratings after the searches at E. Masiulis - the change is dramatic]. delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 31 May 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  23. ^ "Reitingai: naujas skrydis ir netikėtas nuosmukis" [Ratings: a new flight and an unexpected fall]. delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 5 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  24. ^ "A. Butkevičius ir socialdemokratai iššvaistė brangiausią turtą" [A. Butkevičius and the social democrats squandered the most valuable asset]. delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 18 April 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  25. ^ "Partijų reitinguose išnyra juodasis arkliukas" [A dark horse emerges in the party ratings]. delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 21 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  26. ^ "Skandalų sūkuryje: skelbiami naujausi reitingai" [In the whirlwind of scandals: the most recent ratings are announced]. delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 15 February 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  27. ^ "Partijų reitingai: socialdemokratų sėkmę gali aptemdyti nemalonūs šešėliai" [Party ratings: the success of the Social Democrats may be darkened by unpleasant shadows]. delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 11 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  28. ^ "Naujausi partijų reitingai: taip gali likti iki pat rinkimų" [The most recent party ratings: they can stay unchanged until the elections]. delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 14 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  29. ^ "Prezidentė paskelbė rinkimų datą" [The President announced the election date] (in Lithuanian). Delfi.lt. BNS. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  30. ^ "Nustatyti politinės kampanijos išlaidų limitai 2016 metams" [The political campaign spending limits for 2016 have been set]. vrk.lt (in Lithuanian). Central Electoral Commission. 3 January 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  31. ^ "Aukos" [Contributions]. vrk.lt (in Lithuanian). Central Electoral Commission. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  32. ^ "23 politinės partijos galės dalyvauti Seimo rinkimuose" [23 political parties will be able to participate in the elections to the Seimas] (in Lithuanian). Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  33. ^ "Seimo rinkimuose ketina dalyvauti 16 partijų, trys partijos nepateikė dokumentų" [16 parties intend to participate in the elections to the Seimas, 3 parties failed to submit documents]. 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). 5 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  34. ^ Petrulienė, Monika (12 August 2016). "Artėjantys Seimo rinkimai: mažiau pasirinkimo" [Elections to the Seimas: less choice] (in Lithuanian). Delfi.lt. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  35. ^ "Kieno ranka buvo laiminga: partijos išsitraukė rinkiminius numerius" [Who had a lucky hand: the parties drew electoral numbers] (in Lithuanian). Delfi.lt. BNS. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  36. ^ "Politikai jau žino diskusijų laiką ir vietą per Lietuvos radiją ir televiziją" [Politicians already know the time and place for discussions on Lithuanian Radio and Television] (in Lithuanian). Central Electoral Commission. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  37. ^ "Didžiosios partijos parodė nugarą „tvarkiečiams"" [The main parties turned their back on Order and Justice] (in Lithuanian). delfi.lt. BNS. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  38. ^ Vyšniauskaitė, Birutė (30 August 2016). "Rinkimų debatai: liberalus norėta pašalinti iš jų pačių inicijuotos grupės" [Electoral debates: liberals were almost eliminated from the group they had initiated] (in Lithuanian). 15min.lt. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
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