Twenty candidates for president

  • 2002-10-24
VILNIUS

Twenty candidates have registered to run for president in the Dec.22 presidential elections in Lithuania, the Baltic country's election commission said on Oct.18.

Under Lithuanian law registered candidates will have to present the commission with at least 20,000 signatures, supporting their candidacy by Nov. 7.

Incumbent Valdas Adamkus, 75, a returnee from the United States, is currently leading in opinion polls and is seen as likely to win a second five-year term in office.

Under the Lithuanian constitution the president has considerable influence over foreign and defense policy.

In 1997, 10 potential candidates were registered for presidential elections, however only seven took part in the race.