The election day and night: predictions and conspiracy theories (1)

The Parliamentary election has come to an end. Last calculations were made, and while some parties are celebrating the results and others are complaining about the (un)expected loss, the media is feasting on the news.

The leading party in the election is Homeland Union (Lithuanian Christian Democrats), the Ignalina referendum has failed, and the director of National Radio and Television has put on a drunk show in Social democrats’ election lodging.

Many are surprised by the success of the newly established Rising Nation party, which collected 15.03 percent of the votes, landing them second. The party, which is also called the "celebrity-party,” led by Arturas Valinskas, a long-time TV show host, has many entertainers in its list. Valinskas said he wouldn’t run for Prime Minister, minister or Parliament speaker in the BNS conference yesterday morning.

"We are coming to Seimas to work, not to earn money. So we will work,” the new politician said. Valinskas explained the party was centre-right, but did not comment on the possible coalition partners, only saying he wouldn’t discuss the possibilities with Order and Justice Party. Various conspiracy theories suggest that Valinskas’ party is a "social democrats’ project” organised to get more seats in the parliament.

The leader of the Homeland Union Andrius Kubilius kept repeating that he would not discuss the coalition possibilities until the election is over to all media during the night. Experts say that even after getting the highest rating in the election, the party can remain in the minority because of its inability (or unwillingness) to cooperate with populist parties or the Social Democrats.

Political analyst Kestutis Girnius said that everything depends on both leading parties: "Many things now depend on Rising Nation party and their decisions. I have heard that conservatives (Homeland Union) will try to negotiate with them. If these political powers will come together and will be joined by both liberal parties (Liberal Movement of Republic of Lithuania and Liberal and Centre Union), they will form the ruling coalition,” said Girnius, explaining, that the coalition would be steady Right power.

"I think conservatives (Homeland Union) might not interrupt the social democrats’ willingness to remain the ruling power,” said chief analyst of "DnBNord” Rimantas Rudzkis. "They will let socdems to sort out the mass they’ve made during last tenure. Conservatives might like to remain in opposition until the president’s election in June 2009,” Rudzkis said.

Rolandas Paksas, the impeached president and the leader of the third in the poll Order and Justice party had previously said that Order and Justice would not cooperate with social democrats or with conservatives, but later changed his mind.

"Our party will negotiate with all possible candidates, as the electorate has expressed their will,” said Paksas, explaining that the programmes of the parties have to be discussed.

The social democrats, one of initiators of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant referendum, are blaming Supreme Election Commission (SEC) for the failure of the poll.

56000 of voters failed to appear in the referendum, so an approximate 3 percent are missing to reach quorum.

Gediminas Kirkilas, the leader of Social Democrat Party, said today: "The SEC is mainly guilty for this failure. They have poorly informed people about referendum. Also, almost 12 percent of the bulletins were not delivered to the voters.”

The long-time head of Supreme Election Commission Zenonas Vaigauskas retorted by reminding the Prime Minister of the SEC’s role in the election: "The SEC is not the right institution to tell people, to go vote or not.”

The icing on a cake was daubed in the early morning of election night – Audrius Siaurusevicius, The director of the National Radio and Television (NRT) appeared drunk celebrating with social-democrats. Later the man has closed himself inside the power cabinet of the hotel, in which the celebration was taking place, first fighting one photographer and later refusing to go out or let journalists inside.

After five hours inside and several visits of police officers (who were allegedly doing nothing in order to solve the situation), Siaurusevicius stopped holding the door and came out. He didn’t go to work the next day. The NRT Council session is taking place today, where the resignation of Siaurusevicius will be discussed. Many council members and other public figures and have commented on the event as "inappropriate.”