The Freedom Party will elect a new chair at the congress, the only candidate is Vytautas Mitalas
The Freedom Party of Lithuania is set to elect a new chair, with Vytautas Mitalas as the sole candidate after the current chair opted not to seek reelection.
The Freedom Party of Lithuania is preparing for a congress to elect a new chairperson, following the decision of the current chair, Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius, not to seek reelection. The only nomination for the position is Vytautas Mitalas, who is also the chairman of the party's Vilnius city branch and serves as the vice mayor of Vilnius. In addition to the chair election, members will also vote on various governing bodies, including the council and committees, with approximately 37 candidates for the council and around 12 candidates for each ethics and transparency committee.
Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius mentioned that the leadership structure of the party will change significantly, as the chairperson is elected for a term of two years, and the governing council consists of 20 members including the chair and five appointed deputies. Previously, the party was led by Aušrinė Armonaitė, who resigned following a loss in parliamentary elections. This change comes as the party positions itself for upcoming challenges, including municipal elections next year, in which Raskevičius plans to participate actively.
Vytautas Mitalas' candidacy underscores a possibly strategic shift within the party, aiming to solidify its position in local governance while responding to past electoral challenges. As leadership transitions often bring new directions and policies, the party’s decision at this congress could significantly influence its future trajectory in Lithuanian politics, particularly as it gears up for the 2024 local elections.