The left bites back: 2024 parliamentary election in Lithuania

The article examines the results of Lithuania’s 2024 national elections. As is customary, the governing parties lost. In the 34 years since the reestablishment of independence, no governing party in Lithuania has ever been reelected, with the sole exception of the Social Democrats (LSDP), who managed to retain the prime minister’s post despite poor electoral performances between 2001 and 2008. Now, after seven years in opposition, the LSDP has returned to lead the government. In 2024, two new parties entered the parliament (Seimas), while two parties lost their seats. Notably, radical, Eurosceptic, anti-system, pro-Russian, far-right, and far-left parties are absent from the parliament. The party system remains moderately fragmented. Additionally, since 2008, Lithuania has experienced consistent government stability, with no changes occurring during a parliamentary term. This Forum article explores the trends in previous parliamentary elections and the evolution of Lithuania’s electoral system. It is structured around an analysis of the characteristics of participating parties, electoral results and indices, and the formation of the government following the 2024 general elections.