Social Democrats name mayoral candidates, including ministers and MPs

The ruling Lithuanian Social Democratic Party on Saturday approved most of its candidates for mayor, including ministers and members of parliament, LRT reported. The party will field candidates in 59 municipalities in the upcoming elections.

Municipal council and mayoral elections in Lithuania will take place on March 7. Party leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius said 29 of the Social Democrats’ candidates would be seeking to become mayor for the first time.

The party will not nominate its own candidate in Ukmergė, where it has decided to support the incumbent mayor. It has yet to decide whether Robertas Duchnevičius will seek re-election in Vilnius District. The local party branch is due to make a decision in late November and is expected to choose from three candidates.

The Social Democrats currently have more mayors than any other party in Lithuania, with 18 of their representatives leading municipalities. They hope to retain that position after the elections.

Ministers and parliamentarians on the list

Former culture minister Vaida Aleknavičienė, who now chairs the parliament’s Committee on Culture, will run in Joniškis District. In Kaunas city, the party has nominated parliamentarian Audrius Radvilavičius, deputy chair of the Committee on Energy and Sustainable Development. Parliamentarian Šarūnas Šukevičius will run in Kaunas District.

In Klaipėda District, the candidate is parliamentarian Alvydas Mockus, while parliamentarian Violeta Turauskaitė will run in Kretinga. In Panevėžys, the party has nominated parliamentarian Audrius Busila, chair of the Committee on Health Affairs. Parliamentarian Matas Skamarakas, deputy chair of the Committee on Rural Affairs, will run in Raseiniai. Roma Janušonienė is the party’s candidate in Šiauliai.

Transport Minister Juras Taminskas will seek to become mayor of Vilnius. The party has nominated Deputy Transport Minister Lukas Paškevičius in Elektrėnai and Deputy Environment Minister Algirdas Pieniuta in Jurbarkas. Dainius Ivoškis, chancellor of the Ministry of National Defence, will run in Kelmė.

Sandra Sejavičienė, an adviser to Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius, will run in Alytus District. Kęstutis Bartuškevičius, an adviser to the education, science and sport minister, is the candidate in Lazdijai. Deputy Social Security and Labour Minister Rita Grigalienė will run in Tauragė.

Incumbents seeking another term

Several sitting mayors will seek re-election, including Akmenė District Mayor Vitalijus Mitrofanovas, who is involved in legal proceedings in the so-called “receipt case”, and Alytus City Mayor Nerijus Cesiulis.

Kęstutis Knizikevičius will seek another term in Biržai District, Algirdas Raslanas in Kupiškis District and Valentinas Tamulis in Kėdainiai. Rūta Matulaitienė will run again in Mažeikiai, Saulius Margis in Pakruojis, Kazimieras Račkauskis in Radviliškis and Ramūnas Godeliauskas in Rokiškis.

Tomas Katkus will seek another term leading Telšiai District, and Algirdas Neiberka will do so in Vilkaviškis. Neringa Mayor Darius Jasaitis will also seek re-election with the Social Democrats, having rejoined the party in September after previously moving to the Union of Democrats “For Lithuania”.

Birštonas will have a new mayoral candidate: the party has nominated Deputy Mayor Edvardas Citvaras instead of incumbent Nijolė Dirginčienė. In Anykščiai, Deputy Mayor Dainius Žiogelis will run for mayor. Gitana Griškėnienė is the candidate in Molėtai, and Aušra Zongailienė in Pagėgiai.