CEC updates results of parliamentary election in Lithuania

Lithuania's Central Electoral Commission (CEC) updated the parliamentary election results on Sunday, with the Peasants and Greens Union (LVZS) winning 56 seats in the 141-seat parliament.

CEC data showed that LVZS, the biggest winner of this year's election, secured 56 seats, two more seats compared with the preliminary results released on Oct. 24.

The party Order and Justice (PTT) won nine seats, instead of eight seats in the preliminary results.

After preliminary results were released, two independent members of parliament joined LVZS and one joined PTT, leaving only one independent member in the newly elected Seimas, the Lithuanian parliament.

The current ruling party Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP), together with eight other parties and one electoral coalition entered the new Seimas.

LSDP won 17 seats, after LVZS' 56 seats, and 31 seats of the conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD).

With the most seats in the Seimas, LVZS has a mandate to form the new governing coalition and invite partners. LVZS is willing to form a broad coalition including both of LSDP and the conservative party.

Leader of LSDP and PM of Lithuania, Algirdas Butkevicius, said on Oct. 28 his party had decided to start negotiations with LVZS to form the coalition and the upcoming government.

"I hope the negotiations to form the ruling coalition will start next week," said Butkevicius.

Earlier on Oct. 28, Gabrielius Landsbergis, leader of the conservatives, published an announcement saying TS-LKD is ready to talk with LVZS. Though, Landsbergis repeated seven conditions for consultations to continue.

"We don't see any opportunities to attend any consultations or negotiations, if LVZS negotiate with the social democrats at the same time," said Landsbergis in his public announcement.

Seimas is the unicameral parliament of Lithuania with 141 seats and a term of four years. Endit