"People waited for direct mayoral election for decades. Direct elections will enhance democracy in Lithuania. From now on people will have the right to decide who of the politicians represent their interests the best and will know for what decisions they can demand responsibility from mayors. What people need is not symbolic mayors and self-governments but ones that actually work and solve problems," Grybauskaite reasoned.
According to Grybauskaite, mayors elected this way will be directly accountable to people and not parties. She says that previously the outcome of mayoral elections depended on party agreements, whereas now any active person who is not afraid to take responsibility and is supported by the public can be elected. It is hoped that accountability will increase, more competitive ideas and new leaders will emerge.
Opinion poll commissioned by the Ministry of Justice this year showed that 76% of Lithuanians are in favour of direct mayoral elections.
Such a practice of mayoral elections acts in several EU countries – Bulgaria, Italy, Cyprus, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Austria.
