Lithuania's conservative party wins parliamentary elections

Moscow, Oct 27 (UNI) Lithuania's conservative Homeland Union-Christian Democrat party has won yesterday's parliamentary elections in the former Soviet Baltic Republic, Russian news agencies reported, quoting preliminary results announced by the Lithuanian top election authority today.

The Homeland Union-Christian Democrat party won 44 seats in the country's 141-member parliament, the Seimas, falling short of an outright majority, but it is expected that the party will seek a coalition.

The party's leader and former Prime Minister Andrus Kubilius, told mediapersons that he had arranged a meeting with the leaders of two liberal parties and the National Revival Party to start talks on forming a ruling centre-right alliance.

The two liberal parties, the Liberal and Centre Union and the Liberal Union, won a total of 17 seats, and the National Revival Party finished third with 16 seats.

Mr Kubilius said the coalition would not include the ruling Social Democrats, which came second in the polls with 24 seats.

The ruling Social Democrats have lost popularity over their economic policies and, in particular, rampant inflation, as well as being hit by a number of political scandals since coming to power in 2001.

A new coalition is expected to push through economic reforms in Lithuania to try and boost economic growth and employment amid the global credit crunch.

President Valdas Adamkus has already pledged to offer the Prime Minister's post to the winning party.

UNI XC PD SK KP2046