Jasiukevičius wins conservatives’ Kaunas mayoral nomination

Public figure and entrepreneur Šarūnas Jasiukevičius has become the conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats’ candidate for mayor of Kaunas, LRT reported.

He won 70 percent of the votes cast by members and supporters of the party’s Kaunas branch in open voting held over the weekend, the party said on Sunday.

“The people of Kaunas chose a leader they would like to see heading their city. Kaunas, a centre of strong academic potential and innovation, can also become an example of security and resilience for all of Lithuania,” party chairman Laurynas Kasčiūnas said in a statement.

“We must create an attractive environment for young families by investing in housing affordability and childcare infrastructure, and creating favourable conditions for working parents. A city where it is safe and convenient to live, where no one is forgotten, will be the main priority of the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats’ team in the municipal elections in Kaunas,” he added.

Raminta Keršytė, a party representative, told BNS that Jasiukevičius’ candidacy still needs to be approved by the conservatives’ council.

He competed for the nomination against Kaunas City Municipality councillor Andrijana Filinaitė, biophysicist and scientist Rokas Mickus, who chairs the party’s Kaunas Centre branch, journalist Dainoras Lukas and Audronė Baronienė, chair of the party’s Dainava branch.

About 2,000 people were eligible to vote for the party’s candidate: around 1,000 TS-LKD members belonging to Kaunas city branches and an equal number of party supporters who are not members. Voting took place on Saturday and Sunday. Party members could vote electronically, while supporters had to attend the party headquarters.

The TS-LKD says it was the first party in Lithuania to organise open candidate selections, known as “celebrations of democracy”, allowing both party members and supporters who share its values to take part.

Visvaldas Matijošaitis has led Kaunas City Municipality since 2015 and is running with the “United Kaunas” committee. In the previous municipal elections, he was elected in the first round, while the conservatives’ candidate, Vytautas Juozapaitis, came third with 9.61 percent of the vote.

Direct elections for mayors and municipal councils will be held in spring 2027.