VILNIUS – Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, leader of the Lithuanian Liberal Movement, said on Tuesday that she would consider winning two seats in the next European Parliament a very good result for the party.
"A good scenario is to maintain continuity and have one MEP, but a very good scenario is to have two," the speaker of the parliament said after casting her early vote at Lukiskes Square in Vilnius.
Currently, Petras Austrevicius is the only MEP representing the Liberal Movement.
Cmilyte-Nielsen believes that the anticipated low voter turnout is one of the biggest challenges in the European Parliament elections.
"We see some voter fatigue following the recent (presidential) elections, but I do invite everyone to participate as actively as possible, because these elections are very important, probably the most important in the past few decades," she said.
According to Cmilyte-Nielsen, the European Parliament's role is growing and it is in Lithuania's "vital interest" to maintain the body as "an important safeguard of liberal democracy".
The Liberal Movement's leader believes that radical forces, which are gaining strength in Europe, are not strong in Lithuania.
"There's no such trend in Lithuania, in the parliament, but perhaps we see the beginnings of it," the speaker of the Seimas said.
"This is another incentive for those parties that clearly support European values, the protection of liberal democracy, human rights, and the rule of law to convey this message to the people as clearly and vividly as possible," she added.
Early voting in the European Parliament elections began in Lithuania on Tuesday morning and will continue until late Thursday.
Voters can cast their ballots at any early voting location in all 60 Lithuanian municipalities.
Candidates fielded by 14 political parties and one coalition are vying for Lithuania's 11 seats in the European Parliament.
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