Lithuania's oppositional Social Democrats and their cooperation parties stand as winners in Sunday's parliamentary election, according to the preliminary election result.
The party became the largest with 52 out of 141 parliamentary seats. The ruling Christian Democratic Homeland Union with the sitting Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte received 28 seats, reports the public service channel LRT.
The result of this election showed that the Lithuanian people, regardless of where they live – in large cities, in small towns or villages – want change, says the Social Democrats' leader Vilija Blinkeviciute.
The Social Democrats have initiated talks to form a government coalition with the Farmers' and Greens Party and the party For Lithuania, led by former Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis.
They are expected to maintain NATO's large defense budget of 3.2 percent of GDP intact, as well as support for Ukraine and the stance towards Russia.
