Conservatives retain lead as Kukuraitis ratings rise in Lithuania

A survey reported by LRT shows no significant change in Lithuania’s party ratings over the past month, with the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats retaining the top position. Health Minister Linas Kukuraitis also received more favourable ratings than in the previous month.

The survey, conducted by Baltijos tyrimai for ELTA from July 21 to 31, found that former President Valdas Adamkus had the highest favourable rating, at 80 percent. Former President Dalia Grybauskaitė followed with 59 percent, while President Gitanas Nausėda was viewed favourably by 52 percent of respondents.

More respondents viewed public figure Andrius Tapinas favourably than unfavourably, giving him a 47 percent favourable rating. Virginijus Sinkevičius, leader of the Democratic Union For Lithuania, and Aurelijus Veryga, chairman of the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, each received favourable ratings of 45 percent.

Seimas member Valius Ąžuolas was viewed favourably by 42 percent of respondents, while parliamentarian Vytautas Sinica received a 41 percent rating. Sinkevičius and Ąžuolas each saw their favourable ratings fall by four percentage points over the month.

Kukuraitis recorded the largest improvement, rising from 37 percent to 41 percent. Remigijus Žemaitaitis, chairman of the Dawn of Nemunas party, rose from 31 percent to 35 percent. Nausėda and Seimas member Jūratė Zailskienė each gained three percentage points.

The least favourable ratings went to Vytautas Landsbergis, the first leader of independent Lithuania, at 63 percent; former Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, at 61 percent; Žemaitaitis and Liberal Movement leader Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, both at 52 percent; and Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas, at 51 percent.

Party ratings remain largely unchanged

The Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats led the party rankings for a second consecutive month. In July, 14 percent of respondents said they would vote for the party if parliamentary elections were held the following Sunday, compared with 12.5 percent in June.

Within the margin of error, the Dawn of Nemunas, led by Žemaitaitis, moved into second place with 11.1 percent, up from 10.5 percent. The Social Democrats followed with 11 percent, down from 12.1 percent.

The Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union received 8.4 percent support, compared with 10.2 percent in June. The Liberal Movement had 7.5 percent, up from 6.9 percent, while the Democratic Union For Lithuania received 5.2 percent, down from 6 percent.

The Labour Party was supported by 3.4 percent of respondents, down from 4.3 percent. The Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania-Christian Families Alliance received 2.7 percent, up from 2.2 percent.

The National Alliance had 2.6 percent support, compared with 4 percent in June; the Freedom Party had 2.5 percent, down from 2.8 percent; and the Union of Nation and Justice had 1.6 percent, up from 1.4 percent. The Lithuanian Regions Party received 1.5 percent, while the Lithuania for Everyone Party received 1 percent. Other parties were supported by 0.1 percent of respondents.

The survey covered 1,002 Lithuanian residents aged 18 and over, interviewed in person at 108 sampling points. The margin of error was up to 3.1 percentage points.