Conservatives to hold open primary for Kaunas mayoral candidates

The Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) will organise an open primary to select its candidate for mayor of Kaunas, the opposition party announced on Friday. The party’s presidium has approved the plan, with the vote set for late summer.

According to TS-LKD leader Laurynas Kasčiūnas, the open primary will allow party members and supporters to directly choose their preferred candidate for the upcoming municipal elections and decide who they trust to lead the city.

“Since taking over the leadership of TS-LKD, I have made it a priority to pay attention to every city and town in Lithuania. During my frequent visits to Kaunas, I see the city’s potential and its active people and communities,” Kasčiūnas said in the statement.

He described Kaunas as a strategic stronghold and stressed the need to regain the trust of its residents. “Open primaries, where not only our community members but also Kaunas residents who support TS-LKD values can participate, will give a strong start to the municipal elections in this city. Kaunas needs a mayor who will shape a constructive, Western-oriented direction for the city, without populism or ties to states unfriendly to Lithuania,” he added.

Under the planned schedule, candidate nominations within Kaunas TS-LKD branches will run until 15 July, with candidate confirmation by the end of July. Supporter registration is set for 30 July to 20 August, and the primary vote will take place on 29–30 August in Kaunas.

TS-LKD claims to be the first party in Lithuania to begin organising such open primaries, referred to as “Democracy Festivals,” where both party members and supporters who share its values can take part.

Kaunas City Municipality has been led by Visvaldas Matijošaitis since 2015, running with the “United Kaunas” committee. In the last municipal elections, he was elected in the first round, while the conservative candidate Vytautas Juozapaitis came third with 9.61% of the vote.