This time Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania issued more lists of candidates thereby expanding its participation in the elections.
According to the information of the EAPL Press Office, the EAPL Supreme Council has approved all the lists of candidates on 9th January. The lists of candidates were issued even in 13 self-governments. In cities - Vilnius, Druskininkai, Visaginas, and Klaipėda; in districts - Šalčininkai, Vilnius, Trakai, Širvintos, Švenčionys, Elektrėnai, Zarasai, Varėna, and Ignalina. Currently, the collection of voters' signatures, supporting the lists of EAPL candidates, is taking place. It is required under the current electoral law.
There are almost 400 candidates on the EAPL lists. The lists include both the candidates for the councillors and the mayors. As the Press Office of EAPL mentioned, the party has also issued candidates for the direct elections of mayors in 10 self-governments, i.e. in Vilnius district - Marija Rekst, in Šalčininkai district - Zdislav Palevič, in Širvintos district - Rita Tamašunienė, in Trakai district - Marija Puč, in Elektrėnai district - Evelina Solovjova, in Zarasai district - Sergej Šepliakov, in Visaginas - Dmitrij Ikonikov, in Klaipėda - Irina Rozova, and in Vilnius - Valdemar Tomaševski. Irina Rozova was appointed by Alliance of Russians and supported by the EAPL Supreme Council.
'The candidates for the mayors of the Šalčininkai and Vilnius districts - Z. Palevič and M. Rekst - have a chance to win already in the first round. On the other hand, the candidates in the Švenčionys and Trakai districts, in Visaginas, Vilnius and Klaipėda have a chance to get to the second round and fight for the mayor post. EAPL opponents and other forces unfavourable to Poles are especially worried about the candidature of Valdemar Tomaševski for the mayor of Vilnius - the biggest self-government in the state and the city of the largest potential. This concern clearly demonstrates the strengthening position of EAPL. Opponents of the party, who have already reconciled with the fact that this party is a leading force in the Vilnius district, are afraid that EAPL will extend its influence in the capital. Some parties would see the potential winning of EAPL in Vilnius as the darkest scenario. Besides, the leader of the Conservatives Andrius Kubilius warned against it not so long ago,' the statement of the EAPL Press Office claims.
What is also important, is the fact that EAPL has not only many candidates, but also a lot of representatives in electoral commissions. The party has appointed more than 600 people in all 11 municipalities where it was possible under the law, i.e. where the party had already appointed lists of candidates before.
Not only EAPL representatives elected to the self-governments will be known on 1st March, but also the results of by-elections to Seimas, the part in which on behalf of EAPL is taking Renata Cytacka. The by-elections to the Seimas are being held after Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis became the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.
EAPL is optimistic about the results of the coming elections. The party says, that the support for it is growing. People appreciate honest, principled position of representatives of the party, taking care of every citizen, no abuse of power, the fact that the EAPL members have never been involved in any scandals, including corruption - it is a good exception in the national political scene. Therefore there is a good chance that the party will manage to get great results.
