Vilnius vice-mayor Paluckas to run for Lithuanian Social Democrat Party leader

VILNIUS - Vilnius Vice-Mayor Gintautas Paluckas confirmed on Tuesday his intention to run for the post of leader of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP).

"I want to confirm that I agree to be nominated as a candidate for the party's chairperson election. I am doing so deliberately because I care about the prospects of the party and leftist values in Lithuania," he told the party's members in a letter.

Paluckas says that he has a plan of how to lead the Social Democrats "out of the impasse" they are in now and vows to bring about "substantial, comprehensive changes".

Economy Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius has also announced his intention to join the party's leadership race.

Algirdas Butkevicius, the incumbent chairman, said last week that he would not seek re-election.

The Social Democrats will elect their leader in a direct election for the first time. Its chairpersons were until now elected during the party's congresses.

The election is tentatively planned for April, with the results to be announced in early May.

After the Social Democrats came in third in last October's general elections with 17 seats in the 141-membner parliament, Butkevicius in early November announced his intention to resign, but the party's council did not approve of the move.