Benkunskas says decision on seeking second term is near

Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas has not yet decided whether to seek re-election next year, but says he expects to announce his decision soon, LRT reported on Wednesday.

“I am still thinking it over and have nothing to say yet,” Benkunskas told reporters. He said the decision was “not far off” as the municipal election campaign was beginning, but that he still had time to consider his options.

Benkunskas won the 2023 Vilnius mayoral election with 52% of the vote in the second round.

Several parties have already named candidates. The Liberal Movement has put forward Simonas Gentvilas, the Freedom Party has nominated current deputy mayor and party leader Vytautas Mitalas, and the National Alliance has named its leader, Vytautas Sinica.

Former Vilnius mayor Artūras Zuokas has said he will run as an independent and plans to establish a new political committee called Vilnius Can. Vilnius city council member Aleksandras Nemunaitis has also announced his intention to run.

The Union of the People and Justice has nominated journalist and former television presenter Kristupas Krivickas. The non-parliamentary Lithuanian Regions Party has selected Violeta Fominienė-Salemonė, founder of the For Salininkai community and a neighborhood representative in Naujininkai.

Municipal council and mayoral elections are scheduled for March 7, 2027.