Lithuanian Polish Political Party in Parliamentary Election 2016 in Lithuania Cover Image

Lithuanian Polish Political Party in Parliamentary Election 2016 in Lithuania
Lithuanian Polish Political Party in Parliamentary Election 2016 in Lithuania

Author(s): Gediminas Kazėnas
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Political Sciences
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: Lithuania; election 2016; Lithuanian Poles; Lithuanian Polish party; Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania-Christian Families Alliance

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this article is to present the analysis of the election results of Lietuvos lenkų rinkimų akcija-Kriščioniškų šeimų sąjunga (LLRA-KŠS, Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania-Christian Families Alliance) in Lithuania’s Parliamentary election 2016. The article presents a short review of the development of Lithuanian-Polish relationship. Several new events took place before Parliamentary election 2016 and had a certain impact on it. First of all, constituency borders were changed in Lithuania, what in general was very advantageous for LLRA-KŠS. Secondly, geopolitical and security situation in Russia changed dramatically because of its aggression in Ukraine and it also revealed prokremlin’s orientation of LLRA-KŠS that in turn had a very negative impact on the party’s image. Probably due to this LLRA-KŠS received about 10,000 votes less. This drop was most significant in Vilnius city but had an immaterial effect in the constituencies controlled by LLRA-KŠS. Nevertheless, the election reveals another important fact that voters in Vilnius district value not only candidates' nationalities (as it might be expected) but also their origin and bonds with local communities.

  • Issue Year: 2017
  • Issue No: 14
  • Page Range: 87-98
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: English