From 17 November to 29 November this year, the public and market research company Sprinter, commissioned by Delfi, conducted a poll revealing which presidential candidate the country's population supports most.
As before, the highest percentage of support for the incumbent President, Gitanas Nausėda, increased from 19.3% to 22.5% compared to October. According to the latest poll, support for Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė has remained unchanged: in October, 10.1% of voters voted for the conservative candidate, compared to 9.1% in November.
Ignas Vėgėlė, who has put himself forward, also received the support of an unchanged number of voters. In October, 8.8% of respondents intended to vote for him, while in November – 7.9%.
Although the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania has not yet announced its decision on participation in the presidential elections, its chairwoman, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, remains among the favourites not only in the ranks of the party but also in the ranks of the country. Support for her has increased from 7.0% to 7.1% compared to October.
Dainius Žalimas, the candidate nominated by the Freedom Party in November, is also among the top five; 5.5% of respondents would vote for him.
At the same time, Remigijus Žemaitaitis, the candidate of the Peasants Aurelijus Veryga, the Speaker of the Seimas Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, and the self-nominated Valdas Tutkus, all received less than 5% support in both October and November.
However, Giedrimas Jeglinskas, the candidate nominated by the democrats In the Name of Lithuania, Valdemaras Tomaševskis, the leader of the Polish Electoral Action, Antanas Kandrotas, a social activist, and the Mayor of Kazlų Rūda, Mantas Varaška, received less than 2% of the sympathetic vote.
The survey was conducted using a combined CATI AND CAWI (telephone and online) method. The survey was carried out among the Lithuanian population aged 18–75. One thousand fifteen respondents took part in the survey.
ELTA recalls that five political parties have announced their candidacies or endorsements for the presidential elections. The Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats will be represented in the elections by Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, the candidate of the Lithuanian Green Peasant Union will be a member of the Seimas, former Minister of Health Aurelijus Veryga, the Party of Regions of Lithuania will support the mayor of Kazlų Rūda, Mantas Varaška, the Union of Democrats In the Name of Lithuania nominated the candidacy of Giedrimas Jeglinskas, and the Party of Liberty nominated the candidate of the former chairman of the Constitutional Court Dainius Žalimas.
5 other candidates have put themselves forward: a doctor Eduardas Vaitkus, a former army commander Valdas Tutkus, a lawyer Ignas Vėgėlė, an activist Antanas Kandrotas, who has been convicted in court of fraud, and Zenonas Andrulėnas, who tried to run for the post of Director General of the LRT.
President Gitanas Nausėda announced his second term bid last Thursday.
The Social Democratic Party of Lithuania is expected to decide on its participation in the presidential elections in February and the Labour Party in January.
The Lithuanian presidential elections will take place on 12 May 2024.
