Early parliamentary by-election in Nalšia’s northern constituency draws 11 political forces

The Central Electoral Commission (VRK) has announced that 11 political parties and one independent candidate will contest the early parliamentary by-election in the Nalšia northern single-member constituency.

According to the VRK, the confirmed participants include the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania–Christian Families Alliance, Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats, Democratic Union “For Lithuania,” “Nemuno Aušra,” and the Liberal Movement. Also running are parties without current parliamentary representation: the Freedom Party, Union of Nation and Justice (centrists, nationalists), Centre-Right Union, and the Lithuanian Regions Party.

The ruling Social Democratic Party of Lithuania has also registered Ruslanas Baranovas as its candidate. VRK representative Indrė Ramanavičienė confirmed to ELTA that the party has submitted the necessary documents for Baranovas’ campaign registration.

Additionally, the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union plans to field Gintautas Kindurys, who narrowly missed election in the same constituency during the 2024 parliamentary elections, as noted by the party’s deputy chair Ligita Girskienė.

Independent candidate Eduardas Vaitkus, a former presidential hopeful, will also run.

Candidate registration remains open until July 13. The by-election is scheduled for November 8, following the death of Liberal Movement MP Jevgenijus Šuklinas on May 28. The VRK revoked his mandate in early June. Šuklinas, a well-known canoeist, was elected in 2024 as part of the Liberal Movement and served in its parliamentary group.

The Electoral Code requires that by-elections for a single-member constituency be held within six months of a vacancy, unless general elections are due within a year.