Lithuania

Although the Labour Party took the most votes and the highest number of seats in the 141-seat parliament, we remain doubtful that its leader, Viktor Uspaskich, a Russian-born Member of European Parliament (MEP) who made his fortune selling jarred pickles, and currently remains under investigation in Lithuania for allegedly fraudulent party financing deals, will become the next prime minister. Indeed, the Labour Party is already experiencing its first post-election crisis after reports emerged alleging that members of the party were involved in bribing voters. Moreover, President Dalia Grybauskaite, who appoints the prime minister, has previously expressed her reservations over Uspaskich's integrity. Instead, we believe that Algirdas Butkevicius - leader of the Social Democrats - will most likely spearhead the new centre-left coalition government. Latest approval ratings for September by pollster Vilmorus suggest that Butkevicius holds a narrow lead over Uspaskich.

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