The candidates, who have successfully passed the first test of voters' trust, are President Dalia Grybauskaite, who seeks re-election, social democrats' nominee Zigmantas Balcytis, Vilnius Mayor Arturas Zuokas, Ignalina Mayor Bronis Rope, independent candidate Naglis Puteikis. On Friday, the Central Electoral Commission (VRK) registered them as candidates to the President's Office.
Last Thursday, the VRK registered the Labour Party's nominee Arturas Paulauskas and the leader of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania (LLRA) Valdemar Tomasevski as candidates as well.
Each of them have gathered no fewer than 20,000 signatures of voters, as required by the law, and reached the next stage of the presidential election.
Five pretenders did not manage to pass through this stage. Chairman of the Lithuanian Green Party Linas Balsys, who has collected almost 20,500 signatures, had to withdraw from the election, since after discarding a portion of signatures with deficiencies, the number of signatures was insufficient.
Other pretenders who have not succeeded to collect the required number of signatures are Kristina Brazauskiene, the widow of President Algirdas Brazauskas, businessman Vladas Lasas, driver Jonas Lasinis and Signatory Rolandas Paulauskas.
Presidential election in Lithuania will be held on 11 May.
