Lithuania's traditional parties have teamed up in a bid to prevent a Russian-born tycoon from winning more support in a second round of parliamentary elections.
The pro-Moscow Labor Party, led by Russian-born businessman Viktor Uspaskich, won 23 seats — more than any other party — in the first round of voting on Oct. 10 after pledging lower taxes and higher pay.
To keep the upstart Labor Party out of the government, the established parties in the Seimas, or parliament, formed an unusual alliance ahead of Sunday's second round.
Political parties from the left and right agreed to support each other's candidates in districts where they compete against Labor hopefuls.
A total of 75 seats were decided in the first round, leaving 66 seats in single-seat districts to be filled in Sunday's run-offs.
The ruling coalition of the Social Democratic Party and the New Union Party secured only 19 seats in the first round, forcing them to team up with the opposition Conservative Party, which won 11 seats, and the pro-business Liberal and Center Union, which won seven.
If Labor succeeds in winning at least 20 votes on Sunday, it could force itself into a governing coalition that has been the bailiwick of the Social Democrats and New Union since 2001.
Labor has 48 candidates running, but analysts say only one-third stand a chance of winning.
If Labor loses in most districts on Sunday, the Social Democrats and Social Liberals may join the Liberal Center Union and Fatherland Union to form a coalition. The four parties have worked together successfully in the past.
Two other populist parties besides Labor will be represented in the next Seimas. The Coalition for Order and Justice, led by impeached president Rolandas Paksas won nine seats in the first round of voting and the Peasants Union won five.
AP