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Voting stations open in Lithuanian elections(Associated Press WorldStream Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) VILNIUS, Lithuania_Two populist parties appeared poised for a strong showing Sunday in parliamentary elections that could usher in a governing coalition aligned more toward Russia than Europe. The vote also features a nonbinding referendum on whether to keep a flawed, Soviet-era nuclear plant operating beyond its scheduled closure. The Chernobyl-style nuclear plant's design flaws scare EU members, who insist that it be closed on its scheduled date in December 2009. Many Lithuanians claim that shutting down the Ignalina plant, which gives them energy independence, will leave them subject to the whims of Russia, an unreliable energy supplier. One recent poll indicated more than 70 percent of Lithuanians support a postponement of the plant's closure. All major parties in Lithuania favor extending the life of the plant. The governing Social Democrats, who have held the post of prime minister since 2001, are down in the polls and will struggle to pass the 5 percent barrier needed to make it into the Baltic state's 141-member Seimas, or parliament. A poll published Sept. 25 of 1,001 voters by Lietuvos Rytas, the country's top daily, showed that Rolandas Paksas' Order and Justice and Viktor Uspaskich's Labor Party parties could each grab up to 20 percent of the votes, while the right-wing Fatherland Union, a ferocious rival to both parties, can expect 12 percent. Twenty percent of voters were undecided. The margin of error was 3 percent. If victorious, Paksas, an impeached former president, and Uspaskich, who made his fortune in Lithuania selling jarred pickles, could form the backbone of a new, populist coalition that would likely talk tough to the European Union on the nuclear plant and improve relations with neighboring Russia. A victory for the populists _ who have promised to raise public sector salaries and halve the number of lawmakers _ would be a tremendous blow for President Valdas Adamkus, who has fought bitterly with both Paksas and Uspaskich and has appealed to voters not to vote on an emotional impulse Lithuania, which regained independence in 1991 amid the collapse of the Soviet Union, experienced an economic boom after joining the EU 2004. However, the economy overheated and like its Baltic neighbors, Lithuania is now struggling with high inflation and slumping growth. "I ask you to stand firm against short-term political dismay, anger and a feeling of revenge," Adamkus said Saturday. Paksas was impeached in 2004 for violating the Constitution and abuse of office, making him the first European head of state to be impeached and removed from office. Though he is constitutionally barred from occupying public office, he could wield tremendous influence on the sidelines. His party already controls the mayor's office in Vilnius, Lithuania's capital. Uspaskich was forced to resign from the economy minister's post after coming under investigation for a conflict of interest case involving Russia, where he was born. Hounded by prosecutors, Uspaskich fled to Russia in May 2006, but eventually returned to Lithuania, where he was placed under house arrest. He is still under investigation, and although the house arrest has been lifted he is barred from leaving Lithuania for six years. Though the nuclear plant referendum is nonbinding _ organizers call it "consultative" _ it is expected to draw out more of Lithuania's usually apathetic 2.6 million registered voters. "The plant should continue to function until the term for its safe use is expired, said Valentin Komarov, after casting a ballot in Visaginas, near the plant. "It provides economic help to Lithuania, the state and the people." Copyright ? 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |