2nd LD Writethru: Lithuanians vote actively in first direct mayoral elections run-off

More than 5 percent of voters have already given their vote in the run-off of the first direct mayoral elections of Lithuania on Sunday.

The run-off is being held in 40 out of 60 Lithuanian municipalities, where mayors haven't been elected in the first round.

In the second round voters have to choose between two candidates who received the most votes in the first round held two weeks ago in conjunction with municipal elections to city and town councils.

According to the Central Electoral Commission, voting activity in the early hours of voting on Sunday reached 5.13 percent. A total of 4.11 percent of voters gave their vote in the early voting earlier this week.

"This is not a small activity compared to the previous elections. There is not much news on violations of electoral law," said Zenonas Vaigauskas, head of the Commission, at a press conference.

However, the first round of direct mayoral elections in conjunction with municipal elections to city and town councils wasn't completely fluent with results in Trakai municipality being annulled due to violations.

The direct mayoral and municipal elections in this municipality will be held in June, and the voters in Trakai do not participate in elections on Sunday.

Direct mayoral elections are being held in Lithuania for the first time. The Seimas, the Lithuanian Parliament, backed the idea of direct elections last year seeking to increase responsibility of mayors and improve voting activity in municipal elections. Previously mayors were elected by municipal councils.

The mostly watched battle is seen in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, where two liberal candidates both look confident on their victory.

"I believe in Vilnius' victory. And I believe, that I will be a part of this victory," Arturas Zuokas, incumbent mayor and the leader of liberal party Lithuanian Freedom Union, was quoted as saying by news website delfi.lt after giving his vote.

Remigijus Simasius, representing Liberals' Movement of Lithuania, said he was only thinking about a positive outcome for him.

"Plan B is not considered today. I really prepare for the A variant," Simasius told journalists after accompanying his wife to the voting. The politician himself gave a vote in an early voting.

Algirdas Butkevicius, the Prime Minister of Lithuania, said he is expecting the mayor of Vilnius and his team to cooperate fluently with the government when implementing projects financed from the State budget and European funds.

"Both candidates are strong, but the one who will win the elections must understand that he must represent interests of the society and carry out functions delegated to municipalities rather than turning to activities which have nothing to do with a mandate of municipality," said Butkevicius in an interview with National radio LRT.

The prime minister's ruling social democrats party is not being represented in direct mayoral elections in the three largest Lithuanian cities.

The conservative opposition party, Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats, is being represented in Kaunas, the second largest city. Their candidate Andrius Kupcinskas, incumbent mayor, came second in the first round, while Visvaldas Matijosaitis, a local businessman and the leader of public election committee was first.

Public elections committee is another novelty in these municipal elections allowing non-party candidates to aim for a seat in municipality councils.

Liberals are also being represented in mayoral elections in Klaipeda port-city with Vytautas Grubliauskas, the incumbent mayor. His rival, Agne Bilotaite, represents Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats. Endit