Lithuania's conservative party Homeland Union-Christian Democrats claimed victory in the country's general election Sunday night, marking the return of a center-right government, according to news reports from Lithuanian capital Vilnius.
The Baltic country's election commission said the party, led by former prime minister Andrius Kubilius, won 44 seats in total, giving it a clear lead over the Social Democrats of current Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas, which got 26 seats in the 141-member parliament.
A new government could be in place by the end of November.
Kubilius said after the elections that Lithuanians are choosing change -- which will be implemented by a center-right coalition.
The Homeland Union has suggested forming a center-right coalition with two junior liberal parties and a political upstart, the National Revival Party, which came in third with 16 seats in the election. Together the four parties won 79 seats, enough for a majority in the legislature, according to the commission's vote count.
"We see a possibility to work together," said Kubilius, "We will take the responsibility to form a coalition.
Kubilius, a strong critic of Russia, has been stuck in opposition since leading a short-lived government between 1999 and2000.
The Rising Nation party, which came second in the first round of voting, looks certain to join the Homeland Union in government with around 16 seats.
Kubilius said he would insist on the Homeland Union gaining control of the ministries of economy, defence, finance and foreign affairs.
"We have a plan and in this situation. It will be called something like a crisis prevention plan given our economic and financial situation where we see quite a lot of problems with this year's and next year's budget. That will be the main priority."
"We have a situation which is really challenging. But challenges can mean more interesting times for government than a calm period," Kubilius said.
He has said he would allow a budget deficit of about 1 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), below the limit set by the European Union of 3 percent of the GDP.
Lithuanian voters have been exasperated with scandals surrounding the governing Social Democratic Party. They also fear becoming more dependent on Russia for energy, as their country of 3.4 million people will close a Soviet-era nuclear plant next year under an agreement with the European Union.
Source:Xinhua
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