Riga, 13 October 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Lithuania heads to the polls on Sunday to elect a new parliament, with the governing Homeland Union party facing a battle to secure another term in power.

All 141 seats in the Seimas, the country's unicameral parliament, are up for grabs across two rounds of voting this month.

Polls suggest the opposition Social Democratic Party could become the strongest force, with six parties likely to enter the parliament.

The current three-party coalition government under Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė may struggle to win another majority.

The elections are the ninth to be held in Lithuania since it regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

The Baltic country is now a member of both the European Union and NATO.

The election campaign has focused primarily on domestic and social policy issues amid the shadow of Russia's war in Ukraine.

Under Lithuania's electoral system, 70 seats in the Seimas are allocated by proportional representation, while 71 represent single-member constituencies and require a run-off election two weeks later if no party wins a majority.

MIA file photo