Lithuanian Prime Minister Reiterates Pledge to Resign If Defeated in Presidential Race

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 13th May, 2019) Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis, who is running in the country's presidential election, reiterated following Sunday vote his pledge to resign if he is defeated by another candidate, local media reported.

Lithuanian citizens cast their ballots on Sunday to elect the country's new president. The voter turnout totaled about 56 percent, according to the Central Electoral Commission.

"[If I am defeated in the presidential election,] I will file a resignation letter, and the government will resign," Skvernelis said, speaking at his campaign headquarters in the final moments of the vote, as cited by Delfi news portal.

A total of nine candidates are running for the country's highest office. The contenders have different views on the domestic policies of the country, but none of them is planning to change Vilnius' course toward Moscow. Ingrida Simonyte, the country's former minister of finance, and economist Gitanas Nauseda were leading opinion polls ahead of the vote.

A runoff will be held on May 26 if none of the contenders manages to gain the required majority of votes in the first round.