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Conservatives seek Lithuania win Lithuanian opposition claims win
(about 11 hours later)
Lithuanians are voting in the second round of general elections in which the main conservative opposition hopes to build on gains made two weeks ago. The conservative opposition in Lithuania believes it has won enough seats to form a coalition in the second round of the general election.
The Homeland Union led after the first round on 12 October, while the governing Social Democrats were fourth. With much of the vote counted, the Homeland Union was poised to take more than 40 seats in parliament, allowing it the mandate to form a government.
After casting his vote on Sunday, Homeland Union leader Andrius Kubilius said he expected on Monday to "take the initiative" to form a coalition. "We will take the responsibility to form a coalition," said leader Andrius Kubilius, a former prime minister.
Mr Kubilius, 51, served as Lithunainan prime minister during 1999-2000. The ruling Social Democrats suffered in part owing to the failing economy.
The second round will decide 68 seats of the 141-seat parliament. The Homeland Union came out on top in the seats decided last week by proportional representation and now looks to have consolidated its lead through the run-offs which decided the rest of the seats.
Voting began at 0700 (0500 GMT) and will close at 2000 (1800 GMT). Coalition partners
"We expect the result of the election will be such that we can form a government together with the centre-right and liberal parties," Mr Kubilius said as he cast his ballot. With official results received from 45 out of the 68 constituencies involved, the Homeland Union had a combined total of 44 seats, followed by the Social Democrats with 26 and the newly-founded National Resurrection Party with 16 seats, according to AFP news agency.
"Tomorrow we should be able to announce that we will be able to take the initiative," he added. The conservatives are likely to seek a centre-right coalition in the 141-seat parliament with the National Resurrection Party, founded last year by TV quiz show host Arunas Valinskas.
Rolandas Paksas was impeached four years ago Mr Valinskas welcomed the possibility of a such a coalition.
In the first round the conservatives won 18 seats, followed by the National Revival Party, led by a former talent show host, and impeached ex-President Rolandas Paksas' Order and Justice. "I believe our values, views of the situation and reforms are similar to those of the Homeland Union," he told reporters.
Correspondents say Order and Justice could form a populist partnership with Russian-born millionaire Viktor Uspaskich's Labour party. According to AFP, two other potential allies of the conservatives, the Liberal Movement and the Liberal and Centre Union, won 11 and eight seats respectively.
Mr Uspaskich - known as Mr Gherkin because of his pickles business - is battling corruption allegations and is barred from leaving Lithuania. The Order and Justice Party of impeached ex-President Rolandas Paksas secured 15 and the Labour Party - 10, the agency says.
Ex-stunt pilot Mr Paksas was the first European head of state to be removed by impeachment. He quit four years ago amid corruption allegations, which he has always denied.Ex-stunt pilot Mr Paksas was the first European head of state to be removed by impeachment. He quit four years ago amid corruption allegations, which he has always denied.
Although still banned from holding public office, analysts say he could wield huge influence behind the scenes.Although still banned from holding public office, analysts say he could wield huge influence behind the scenes.
In power since 2001, the Social Democrats were in trouble due to the failing economy of the ex-Soviet state, which joined the European Union in 2004.