Although there are 12 persons, who have announced about their running in the presidential elections, only 7 of them will become official candidates. The first one to drop out of presidential election race was nominee of the Order and Justice Party Rolandas Paksas. According to the latest polls, he could become the strongest rival to current President Dalia Grybauskaite. The Central Electoral Commission (VRK) has decided not to register Paksas as a pretender to the elections since he does not meet the requirements for a presidential candidate as stipulated in the Law on Presidential Elections.
Five more pretenders dropped out from presidential election since they did not manage to collect a required number of votes. 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.
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, the Labour Party's nominee Arturas Paulauskas, and the leader of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania (LLRA) Valdemar Tomasevski. On Wednesday, these candidates will be provided with the presidential candidacy certificates.
On 17 April, debates of Lithuania's presidential candidates will begin. This time the candidates will not be allowed to send their representatives but will have either to participate themselves or not take part at all. Five debate shows will be broadcasted by the national television before the first round of elections. Four programmes will also be shown on one of the commercial television channels.
Presidential election in Lithuania will be held on 11 May.
