Lithuanians are voting in presidential elections after a campaign dominated by defense issues, as Vilnius seeks to strengthen its security vis-à-vis neighboring Russia, AFP reported , quoted by BTA.
The Baltic republic of 2.8 million people, which borders the heavily militarized Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, fears it could be the next victim of attack if Moscow wins its war in Ukraine.
"Lithuanian understanding of the Russian threat is unanimous and undeniable, and the main candidates agree with it,", summarizes Linas Koyala, director of the Center for East European Studies in Vilnius.
The polls give incumbent Gitanas Nauseda, a 59-year-old former banker who is running for a second term, a comfortable lead over the other seven candidates, who include Prime Minister Ingrida Shimonite and prominent lawyer Ignas Vegele.
Observers predict that Nauseda will win in the runoff, which will be held on May 26.
In the first round, Nauseda is expected to win over 35 percent of the vote, according to the latest poll, which gives Vegele 12 percent and Shimons 10 percent support.
The Lithuanian president manages foreign policy together with the government and participates in the summits of the European Union and NATO.
However, he must consult the government and parliament before appointing the highest-ranking civil servants, according to AFP.