Freedom Party names 10 mayoral candidates, unveils election program

The Freedom Party has confirmed 10 mayoral candidates for Lithuania’s 2027 municipal elections and presented its election program, LRT reported.

The party will field candidates in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Panevėžys, Šiauliai and Visaginas, as well as in the Vilnius, Šakiai, Telšiai and Trakai district municipalities.

In Vilnius, the party’s candidate is its leader and city Deputy Mayor Vytautas Mitalas. In Vilnius district, it has nominated municipal council member Daniel Ilkevič, who chairs the party’s local branch.

In Kaunas, the Freedom Party and the Lithuanian Green Party are jointly backing Green Party leader and public policy analyst Ieva Budraitė. In Klaipėda, the candidate is Kiril Veseljev, head of the Freedom Party’s Klaipėda branch and a graduate in global law from Tilburg University. Businesswoman and lecturer Santa Vaškevičienė will run in Panevėžys.

In Šiauliai, the Freedom Party, the Liberal Movement and the political committee Šiaulių labui! are jointly backing Zakiras Medžidovas, a city council member, lawyer and master’s graduate in public administration. In Visaginas, the candidate is local branch head and community activist Maksim Paukštė.

The party’s candidates in the district municipalities are Mantas Aleksa, a communications specialist and branch head, in Šakiai; Martynas Daubaris, a business management specialist and branch head, in Telšiai; and Ignas Saldys, a farmer and head of the Trakai branch.

The party’s general municipal election program sets out 10 priorities. They include greater public involvement in municipal decision-making, more transparent local government, less red tape for businesses and better conditions for investment. The program also pledges to improve transport links between municipalities, expand housing supply and improve education and healthcare services across Lithuania.

Other priorities include expanding support for older people, strengthening municipal preparedness for crises, improving public spaces and developing green infrastructure. The party also promises to improve access to cultural and sporting events, fund youth organisations and independent creators, and develop tourism in the regions.

Mitalas said the party aims to change how municipalities are governed and give residents more opportunities to shape the future of their cities and districts. He said the party wants to increase competition and transparency in local government and give everyone more opportunities to participate.

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