Incumbent President Gitanas Nausėda seeks re-election against a range of opponents including Ingrida Šimonytė, his runoff challenger in the 2019 Lithuanian presidential election and incumbent Prime Minister of Lithuania. Since announcing his bid on 7 December 2023, Nausėda has been the clear frontrunner, while Šimonytė is the sole woman vying for the presidency. Former chairman of the Lithuanian Bar Association Ignas Vėgėlė was considered to be an anti-establishment candidate, although several candidates contend for the protest vote. Eduardas Vaitkus was regarded as the pro-Russian candidate in the election and received support from the Polish-majority Šalčininkai region and his hometown of Visaginas, which is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Russians.
National security in the aftermath of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and the financing of the military, universal conscription,[92] managing effects of the ageing population, cost of living, the One China Policy, ratification of the Istanbul Convention, Nausėda’s 2019 presidential campaign and alleged connections with business interests from Russia and Belarus, the Šimonytė Cabinet and its conflict with Nausėda have emerged as potential leading issues during the campaign. Both Nausėda and Šimonytė have agreed on increasing defense spending and strengthening relations with NATO, but have diverged on other issues such as same-sex unions, which Nausėda opposes.
Following the results of the first round, Nausėda expressed thanks to the Lithuanian people for their support in his five years in office despite challenges such as inequality, while Šimonytė said the results indicated support for her premiership. Ignas Vėgėlė attributed his defeat to the distribution of votes among the candidates who campaigned on a change platform and his lack of political experience.
Sources and further reading:
Lithuania’s Nauseda wins first round of presidential election, Al Jazeera 13.05.24
Lithuanians vote in a presidential election as anxieties rise over Russia and the war in Ukraine. AP News 12.05.24