New political force led by Vėgėlė may contest next year’s municipal elections

Member of Parliament Ignas Vėgėlė, who is forming a new political movement, has said the group will likely participate in Lithuania’s 2025 municipal elections, though he acknowledges the challenges of fielding candidates nationwide, LRT reports.

Speaking to journalists in the Seimas on Tuesday, Vėgėlė recognised that municipal elections differ significantly from parliamentary contests, requiring strong local networks and extensive groundwork. “For any new political force, municipal elections are particularly difficult,” he said. “I understand these risks. Nevertheless, I believe that as a starting point, municipal elections could serve as a foundation for our activities.”

He confirmed that the new movement would not field candidates in all 60 municipalities, citing the scale of organising a nationwide campaign. Instead, Vėgėlė said he would seek to support existing local political committees that align with his movement’s declared values and direction.

Municipal council and direct mayoral elections are scheduled for February–March 2025. Vėgėlė announced plans to begin touring Lithuania in May, inviting residents—including political parties and civic organisations—to unite. “The main goal is to rally the Lithuanian people,” he emphasised, declining to name which groups had already responded to his call.

Vėgėlė, elected to the Seimas in 2024 on the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union ticket, left the party’s parliamentary faction this week. Earlier, he had called on centre-right political forces to consolidate at a citizens’ conference in Kaunas.