Lithuania’s Liberal Movement nominates MP Simonas Gentvilas for Vilnius mayor

The opposition Liberal Movement will field lawmaker and former environment minister Simonas Gentvilas as its candidate for Vilnius mayor, the party’s Vilnius branch decided on Tuesday, LRT reports.

In a statement, Gentvilas outlined his vision for the capital, arguing that Vilnius must “aim higher and become an example for other European cities—a million-strong hub of talent, technology, and culture.”

“Orderly streets, convenient transport, and accessible services are the foundation of any modern city,” he said. “But no city becomes a benchmark for others simply by managing daily life.”

He pledged to transform Vilnius into a leader rather than a follower of global change, positioning it as the Baltic region’s air travel hub, a center for international exhibitions and congresses, and a magnet for students, film production, and fintech. His goal is to double the city’s student population and boost its global profile.

A graduate in urban development, Gentvilas currently serves in the Seimas and previously held the environment minister post. He ran for mayor of Klaipėda in 2019, finishing fourth with 8% of the vote.

The Liberal Movement currently holds no seats on the Vilnius City Council. Though the party won the 2015 local elections, internal divisions—including the departure of then-mayor Remigijus Šimašius to form the Freedom Party—left it without representation in the last vote.

Direct elections for mayors and municipal councils are scheduled for February or March 2027.