Lithuanians are expected to punish the centre-right government of Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte in Sunday's national election over soaring living costs while reaffirming their support for high defence spending to counter potential threats from Russia. Opinion polls show the main opposition Social Democrats led by Vilija Blinkeviciute ahead in the race with about 18 per cent support, while Simonyte's Homeland Union is placed third with 9 per cent, behind the anti-establishment Nemunas Dawn party on 12 per cent. A former finance minister and fiscal hawk, Simonyte has built a broad consensus in the Baltic nation of 2.9 million over the need to raise military spending following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, doubling the size of the defence budget.
But with inflation topping 20 per cent two years ago, then-second highest in the euro zone after neighbouring Latvia, cost of living concerns and a widening gap between haves and have-nots have weighed heavily on her popularity.
"After four years in power, you always have some, you know, challenges. Especially in Lithuania, where there's a tradition of power changing after elections," Laurynas Kasciunas, Homeland Union's deputy leader, said. — Reuters
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