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1996 Lithuanian parliamentary election: Difference between revisions

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!colspan=6|Single-member constituencies
!colspan=6|Single-member constituencies
!rowspan=3|Total<br />seats
!rowspan=3|Total<br />seats
!rowspan=3|+/–
|-
|-
!colspan=3|First round
!colspan=3|First round
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!Seats
!Seats
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats|Homeland Union – Lithuanian Conservatives]]||409,585||31.34||33||376,081||28.65||2||407,645||42.40||35||70
|align=left|[[Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats|Homeland Union – Lithuanian Conservatives]]
||409,585
||31.34
||33
||376,081
||28.65
||2
||407,645
||42.40
||35
||70
||New
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party]]||136,259||10.43||11||173,761||13.24||0||138,309||14.39||5||16
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party]]
||136,259
||10.43
||11
||173,761
||13.24
||0
||138,309
||14.39
||5
||16
||+6
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania]]||130,837||10.01||10||146,006||11.12||0||105,103||10.93||2||12
|align=left|[[Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania]]
||130,837
||10.01
||10
||146,006
||11.12
||0
||105,103
||10.93
||2
||12
||–54
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Centre Union of Lithuania]]||113,333||8.67||9||89,452||6.81||0||52,878||5.50||4||13
|align=left|[[Centre Union of Lithuania]]
||113,333
||8.67
||9
||89,452
||6.81
||0
||52,878
||5.50
||4
||13
||+11
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Social Democratic Party of Lithuania|Lithuanian Social-Democrat Party]]||90,756||6.94||7||95,499||7.28||0||52,058||5.41||5||12
|align=left|[[Social Democratic Party of Lithuania|Lithuanian Social-Democrat Party]]
||90,756
||6.94
||7
||95,499
||7.28
||0
||52,058
||5.41
||5
||12
||+4
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Young Lithuania]]||52,423||4.01||0||22,052||1.68||0||13,845||1.44||1||1
|align=left|[[Young Lithuania]]
||52,423
||4.01
||0
||22,052
||1.68
||0
||13,845
||1.44
||1
||1
||+1
|-
|-
|align=left|[[New Democracy Party (Lithuania)|Lithuanian Women's Party]]||50,494||3.86||0||36,453||2.78||0||8,960||0.93||1||1
|align=left|[[New Democracy Party (Lithuania)|Lithuanian Women's Party]]
||50,494
||3.86
||0
||36,453
||2.78
||0
||8,960
||0.93
||1
||1
||+1
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Christian Democratic Union (Lithuania)|Lithuanian Christian Democratic Union]]||42,346||3.24||0||20,711||1.58||0||8,702||0.91||1||1
|align=left|[[Christian Democratic Union (Lithuania)|Lithuanian Christian Democratic Union]]
||42,346
||3.24
||0
||20,711
||1.58
||0
||8,702
||0.91
||1
||1
||0
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania]]||40,941||3.13||0||36,434||2.78||0||15,216||1.58||1||1
|align=left|[[Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania]]
||40,941
||3.13
||0
||36,434
||2.78
||0
||15,216
||1.58
||1
||1
||New
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Citizens' Alliance|Alliance of the Lithuanian National Minorities]]||33,389||2.55||0||22,252||1.70||0||18,378||1.91||0||0
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Citizens' Alliance|Alliance of the Lithuanian National Minorities]]||33,389||2.55||0||22,252||1.70||0||18,378||1.91||0||0||0
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Nationalist and Republican Union|Lithuanian Nationalist Union]]||rowspan=2|28,744||rowspan=2|2.20||rowspan=2|0||33,712||2.57||0||32,628||3.39||1||1
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Nationalist and Republican Union|Lithuanian Nationalist Union]]||rowspan=2|28,744||rowspan=2|2.20||rowspan=2|0||33,712||2.57||0||32,628||3.39||1||1||–3
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Democratic Party]]||16,096||1.25||0||16,154||1.68||2||2
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Democratic Party]]
||16,096
||1.25
||0
||16,154
||1.68
||2
||2
||–2
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Liberal Union of Lithuania]]||25,279||1.93||0||34,842||2.65||0||15,989||1.66||1||1
|align=left|[[Liberal Union of Lithuania]]
||25,279
||1.93
||0
||34,842
||2.65
||0
||15,989
||1.66
||1
||1
||+1
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Peasants Party]]||22,826||1.75||0||29,135||2.22||0||10,377||1.08||1||1
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Peasants Party]]
||22,826
||1.75
||0
||29,135
||2.22
||0
||10,377
||1.08
||1
||1
||0
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Union of the Russians of Lithuania]]||22,395||1.71||0||11,437||0.87||0||–||–||0||0
|align=left|[[Union of the Russians of Lithuania]]||22,395||1.71||0||11,437||0.87||0||–||–||0||0||0
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Union of Political Prisoners and Deportees]]||20,580||1.57||0||24,797||1.89||0||8,685||0.90||1||1
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Union of Political Prisoners and Deportees]]||20,580||1.57||0||24,797||1.89||0||8,685||0.90||1||1||–4
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Liberty Union]]||20,511||1.57||0||12,456||0.95||0||6,823||0.71||0||0
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Liberty Union]]||20,511||1.57||0||12,456||0.95||0||6,823||0.71||0||0||0
|-
|-
|align=left|Lithuanian Party of Economy||16,475||1.26||0||26,609||2.03||0||6,665||0.69||0||0
|align=left|Lithuanian Party of Economy||16,475||1.26||0||26,609||2.03||0||6,665||0.69||0||0||New
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Liberty League]]||12,562||0.96||0||6,557||0.50||0||–||–||0||0
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Liberty League]]||12,562||0.96||0||6,557||0.50||0||–||–||0||0||0
|-
|-
|align=left|Lithuanian Social Justice Union||12,234||0.94||0||6,555||0.50||0||–||–||0||0
|align=left|Lithuanian Social Justice Union||12,234||0.94||0||6,555||0.50||0||–||–||0||0||0
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Socialist Party]]||9,985||0.76||0||5,820||0.44||0||–||–||0||0
|align=left|[[Lithuanian Socialist Party]]||9,985||0.76||0||5,820||0.44||0||–||–||0||0||New
|-
|-
|align=left|Republican Party||5,063||0.39||0||12,153||0.93||0||–||–||0||0
|align=left|Republican Party||5,063||0.39||0||12,153||0.93||0||–||–||0||0||0
|-
|-
|align=left|National Progress Party||3,922||0.30||0||6,392||0.49||0||–||–||0||0
|align=left|National Progress Party||3,922||0.30||0||6,392||0.49||0||–||–||0||0||0
|-
|-
|align=left|Lithuanian Party Life's Logic||3,361||0.26||0||4,071||0.31||0||–||–||0||0
|align=left|Lithuanian Party Life's Logic||3,361||0.26||0||4,071||0.31||0||–||–||0||0||New
|-
|-
|align=left|Lithuanian Peoples Party||2,622||0.20||0||2,088||0.16||0||–||–||0||0
|align=left|Lithuanian Peoples Party||2,622||0.20||0||2,088||0.16||0||–||–||0||0||New
|-
|-
|align=left|Non-Partisan Movement "Elections 96" ||–||–||–||12,369||0.92||0||–||–||0||0
|align=left|Non-Partisan Movement "Elections 96" ||–||–||–||12,369||0.92||0||–||–||0||0||New
|-
|-
|align=left|[[Independence Party (Lithuania)|Independence Party]]||–||–||–||1,884||0.14||0||–||–||0||0
|align=left|[[Independence Party (Lithuania)|Independence Party]]||–||–||–||1,884||0.14||0||–||–||0||0||0
|-
|-
|align=left|Lithuanian Reform Party ||–||–||–||1,389||0.11||0||–||–||0||0
|align=left|Lithuanian Reform Party ||–||–||–||1,389||0.11||0||–||–||0||0||0
|-
|-
|align=left|Independents||–||–||–||45,595||3.47||0||42,969||4.47||4||4
|align=left|Independents||–||–||–||45,595||3.47||0||42,969||4.47||4||4||+3
|-
|-
|align=left|Vacant||–||–||–||–||–||–||–||–||4||4
|align=left|Vacant||–||–||–||–||–||–||–||–||4||4

Revision as of 14:46, 24 April 2022

1996 Lithuanian parliamentary election
Litauen
← 1992 20 October 1996 (first round)
10 November 1996 (second round)		 2000 →
All 141 seats in the Seimas
71 seats needed for a majority
Turnout52.92% Decrease 22.37 pp
Party Leader % Seats +/–
TS Vytautas Landsbergis 31.34% 70 New
LKDP Algirdas Saudargas 10.43% 16 +6
LDDP Česlovas Juršėnas 10.01% 12 −61
LCS Romualdas Ozolas 8.67% 14 +12
LSDP Aloyzas Sakalas 6.94% 12 +4
JL Stanislovas Buškevičius 4.01% 1 +1
LMP Kazimira Prunskienė 3.86% 1 New
KDS Kazys Bobelis 3.24% 1 0
LLRA Jan Senkevič 3.13% 3 −1
LPA Mečislovas Vaškovič 2.55% 1 New
LTS–LDP R. Smetona & S. Pečeliūnas 2.20% 3 −1
LLS Ginutis Vencius 1.93% 1 +1
LVP Albinas Vaižmužis 1.75% 1 New
LPKTS Audrius Butkevičius 1.57% 1 −1
Independents - - 4 +3
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after
Laurynas Stankevičius
LDDP		 Gediminas Vagnorius
TS
Politics of Lithuania
Coat of arms of Lithuania
Constitution
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations

Parliamentary elections were held in Lithuania in two stages on 20 October and 10 November 1996.[1] All 141 seats in the Seimas were up for election; 70 based on proportional party lists and 71 in single member constituencies. Where no candidate gained more than 50% of the vote on 20 October, a run-off was held on 10 November.

The first round of the elections was held concurrently with a referendum to amend Articles 55, 57 and 131 of the constitution, and a referendum on the use of proceeds from privatization. The second round was held concurrently with a referendum to amend Article 47 of the constitution. Due to a low turnout, none of the referendum questions succeeded in getting approval from at least 50% of registered voters.

The result was a victory for the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Conservatives, which won 70 seats. They formed a coalition with second-place Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party. The Homeland Union benefited from dissatisfaction with the ruling Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania, which had failed to reignite the economy and was plagued by financial scandals. Gediminas Vagnorius was subsequently appointed as the Prime Minister.

Electoral system

Main article: Elections in Lithuania

In his decree on 9 April 1996, the President of Lithuania Algirdas Brazauskas set the date of the elections to the Seimas for 20 October.[2] Elections took place under a mixed electoral system, with 70 MPs elected on proportional party lists and 71 MPs in single member constituencies. Run-off elections were to be held on 10 November in constituencies where no candidate received at least 50% of the votes cast.

In June 1994, Political Parties' and Political Organisations' Act was passed. This act set a notion that only political parties (and coalitions consisting them) could take part in the elections. Public organisations (e. g. Assotiation of Poles in Lithuania) had to become political parties if it wanted to part in the elections.[3]

In June 1996, the electoral threshold for the 70 proportional seats was increased from 4% to 5%, a new threshold of 7% was introduced for electoral coalitions and the exception for electoral lists of national minorities was eliminated. This change was mainly passed by the votes of the Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania and the Homeland Union. The combined purpose of the changes was to reduce the number of small parties in the parliament. The elections were also the first to allow voters to give preference votes to candidates on electoral lists, although their influence was limited (as some parties hadn't allowed this option for their lists).[4] This system allowed voters to cast both positive and negative preference votes (the latter option allowed to express disapproval of candidates).

Campaign

The main contestants in the elections were the ruling Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania (LDDP) and the Homeland Union - Lithuanian Conservatives. The LDDP, led by Česlovas Juršėnas, had evolved from the Communist Party of Lithuania and won the 1992 election to the Seimas by a significant margin. Homeland Union, led by Vytautas Landsbergis, was founded in 1993 from elements of the Sąjūdis party, which started as a reform movement that had led the drive for independence from the Soviet Union.

Pre-election polls suggested a victory for the right-wing opposition over LDDP. The ruling party was suffering as a result of continued economic woes that were at the forefront of the debate: the economic situation was not improving as quickly as people expected. Financial scandals, including one involving former Prime Minister Adolfas Šleževičius, also played a major role. The opposition, on the other hand, promised improvement and stability on the domestic scene and a fight against corruption.[2] Homeland Union secured the support of major business leaders before the election: in October 1996 Gediminas Vagnorius and Bronislovas Lubys, the leader of Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists signed a memorandum, creating an alliance of politics and industry. Homeland Union also received support and financial contributions from international companies and Lithuanian diaspora.[4] All major parties generally agreed on foreign policy goals of affiliation with NATO and European institutions.

Altogether 1,351 candidates representing 28 political parties contested for the 141 seats at stake, while 24 parties competed for the proportionally allocated seats.[4]

Opinion polls

Graph of opinion polls conducted

Results

In the elections characterized by a substantially lower turnout than before, Homeland Union gained 70 seats.[2] Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party finished as a distant runner-up with 16 seats. The ruling LDDP won only 12 seats, compared to 73 in the previous elections.

The votes in the election were more dispersed than before. This, together with the changes to the electoral law increasing the threshold for nationwide constituency, had the effect of increasing the wasted votes in the constituency from 14% in elections of 1992 to 32% in 1996. It is the biggest share of wasted votes in Seimas election's history up to date.

Party Nationwide constituency Single-member constituencies Total
seats 		+/–
First round Second round
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
Homeland Union – Lithuanian Conservatives 409,585 31.34 33 376,081 28.65 2 407,645 42.40 35 70 New
Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party 136,259 10.43 11 173,761 13.24 0 138,309 14.39 5 16 +6
Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania 130,837 10.01 10 146,006 11.12 0 105,103 10.93 2 12 –54
Centre Union of Lithuania 113,333 8.67 9 89,452 6.81 0 52,878 5.50 4 13 +11
Lithuanian Social-Democrat Party 90,756 6.94 7 95,499 7.28 0 52,058 5.41 5 12 +4
Young Lithuania 52,423 4.01 0 22,052 1.68 0 13,845 1.44 1 1 +1
Lithuanian Women's Party 50,494 3.86 0 36,453 2.78 0 8,960 0.93 1 1 +1
Lithuanian Christian Democratic Union 42,346 3.24 0 20,711 1.58 0 8,702 0.91 1 1 0
Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania 40,941 3.13 0 36,434 2.78 0 15,216 1.58 1 1 New
Alliance of the Lithuanian National Minorities 33,389 2.55 0 22,252 1.70 0 18,378 1.91 0 0 0
Lithuanian Nationalist Union 28,744 2.20 0 33,712 2.57 0 32,628 3.39 1 1 –3
Lithuanian Democratic Party 16,096 1.25 0 16,154 1.68 2 2 –2
Liberal Union of Lithuania 25,279 1.93 0 34,842 2.65 0 15,989 1.66 1 1 +1
Lithuanian Peasants Party 22,826 1.75 0 29,135 2.22 0 10,377 1.08 1 1 0
Union of the Russians of Lithuania 22,395 1.71 0 11,437 0.87 0 - - 0 0 0
Lithuanian Union of Political Prisoners and Deportees 20,580 1.57 0 24,797 1.89 0 8,685 0.90 1 1 –4
Lithuanian Liberty Union 20,511 1.57 0 12,456 0.95 0 6,823 0.71 0 0 0
Lithuanian Party of Economy 16,475 1.26 0 26,609 2.03 0 6,665 0.69 0 0 New
Lithuanian Liberty League 12,562 0.96 0 6,557 0.50 0 - - 0 0 0
Lithuanian Social Justice Union 12,234 0.94 0 6,555 0.50 0 - - 0 0 0
Lithuanian Socialist Party 9,985 0.76 0 5,820 0.44 0 - - 0 0 New
Republican Party 5,063 0.39 0 12,153 0.93 0 - - 0 0 0
National Progress Party 3,922 0.30 0 6,392 0.49 0 - - 0 0 0
Lithuanian Party Life's Logic 3,361 0.26 0 4,071 0.31 0 - - 0 0 New
Lithuanian Peoples Party 2,622 0.20 0 2,088 0.16 0 - - 0 0 New
Non-Partisan Movement "Elections 96" - - - 12,369 0.92 0 - - 0 0 New
Independence Party - - - 1,884 0.14 0 - - 0 0 0
Lithuanian Reform Party - - - 1,389 0.11 0 - - 0 0 0
Independents - - - 45,595 3.47 0 42,969 4.47 4 4 +3
Vacant - - - - - - - - 4 4
Invalid/blank votes 67,751 4.92 - 62,015 4.51 - 41,897 4.35 - -
Total 1,374,673 100 70 1,374,673 100 2 961,384 100 69 141
Registered voters/turnout 2,597,530 52.92 - - 2,401,542 38.16 - -
Source: Nohlen & Stöver, European Elections Database

Four seats were left vacant and new elections were to be held in four constituencies where the turnout did not reach the required 40%.[5] Two of these seats were won by Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania (Vilniaus Šalčininkų and Vilniaus Trakų constituencies),[6][7] one by Centre Union of Lithuania (Trakų constituency),[8] and the last one by Alliance of the Lithuanian National Minorities (Naujosios Vilnios constituency).[9]

Aftermath

The newly elected Seventh Seimas elected Vytautas Landsbergis as its Speaker. As Homeland Union was one seat short of the majority, they were joined by the Christian Democrats in a coalition government. Gediminas Vagnorius of the Homeland Union was appointed the Prime Minister, while the leader of the Christian Democrats, Algirdas Saudargas was appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Two members of the Centre Union of Lithuania, Algis Čaplikas and Imantas Lazdinis, joined the Government, but as individuals and not delegates of their party. Vincas Babilius of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists became the Minister of Economy.[4]

The newly formed coalition had supermajority in the parliament, what allowed it to amend the Constitution and overturn presidential vetoes.

These election marked the first time, when liberal party members were elected to the parliament of Lithuania.

References

  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1201 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. ^ a b c 1996 Seimas Elections Inter-Parliamentary Union
  3. ^ https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/TAIS.604/MggmiRMvog
  4. ^ a b c d Blažytė-Baužienė, Danutė; Tamošaitis, Mindaugas; Truska, Liudas (2009). Lietuvos Seimo Istorija. XX-XXI a. pradžia (in Lithuanian). Lithuania: Baltos Lankos. pp. 336–343. ISBN 978-9955-23-322-0.
  5. ^ 1996 Parliamentary Elections University of Essex
  6. ^ Duomenys apie kandidata – Jan Senkevič
  7. ^ Duomenys apie kandidata – Valdemar Tomaševski
  8. ^ Duomenys apie kandidata – Danutė Aleksiūnienė
  9. ^ Duomenys apie kandidata – Mečislav Vaškovič
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