Lithuanian Polish political party in Parliamentary Election 2016 in Lithuania

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: 2016 m. Seimo rinkimai; Lietuvos lenkai; Lietuvos lenkų rinkimų akcija- Krikščioniškų šeimų sąjunga; Partija; Partinė sistema; Rinkimai; Rinkiminis elgesys; Election; Electoral Action; Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania-Christian Families Union; Lithuania; Lithuanian Poles; Lithuanian Polish party; Party; Party system; Seimas elections 2016.

ENThe purpose of this article is to present the analysis of the election results of Lietuvos lenkų rinkimų akcija-Kriščioniškų šeimų sąjunga (LLRA-KŠS, Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania-Christian Families Alliance) in Lithuania’s Parliamentary election 2016. The article presents a short review of the development of Lithuanian-Polish relationship. Several new events took place before Parliamentary election 2016 and had a certain impact on it. First of all, constituency borders were changed in Lithuania, what in general was very advantageous for LLRA-KŠS. Secondly, geopolitical and security situation in Russia changed dramatically because of its aggression in Ukraine and it also revealed prokremlin’s orientation of LLRA-KŠS that in turn had a very negative impact on the party’s image. Probably due to this LLRA-KŠS received about 10,000 votes less. This drop was most significant in Vilnius city but had an immaterial effect in the constituencies controlled by LLRA-KŠS. Nevertheless, the election reveals another important fact that voters in Vilnius district value not only candidates' nationalities (as it might be expected) but also their origin and bonds with local communities. [From the publication]