Lithuania polls open for 1st round of presidential election

Lithuanian voters cast their ballots to elect the president on Sunday. Polls close at 1700 GMT and the result is expected later on Sunday. A run-off round between the top two candidates will be held on 26th May if no candidate wins an outright majority.

Opinion polls give the incumbent, former banker Gitanas Nauseda, a comfortable lead over the other seven candidates, who include Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte and prominent lawyer Ignas Vegele. The Lithuanian president steers defense and foreign policy, attending EU and NATO summits, but must consult with the government and parliament on appointing the most senior officials.