Non-partisans to be allowed to select Lithuania's HU-LCD presidential candidate

VILNIUS – Non-partisans will be allowed vote for the opposition Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats' candidate for the upcoming presidential elections, as well as for candidates in certain municipalities' mayoral elections.

The changes were approved by the party's council on Saturday and still need formal approval by the party's convention.

Under the new rules, local HU-LCD branches will be able to nominate presidential candidate if they receive at least 10 percent of votes from members of local branches. HU-LCD leader Gabrielius Landsbergis said presidential candidates could also include non-partisans.

The party's final presidential candidate would be elected in a secret ballot by all party branches, and the vote would be considered to have taken place if at least half of HU-LCD branches have voted. And the winner would be selected if they received half of votes.

The novelty is that not only HU-LCD members but also non-partisans would be allowed to vote for the party's presidential candidates, with prior registration in the HU-LCD voting system and "declaration of support for the HU-LCD's activity and values".

„A special selection group will check people to avoid political participation with the goal to undermine the election, to avoid such risks. I hope we'll receive considerable participation", Landsbergis told BNS Lithuania.