Former Prime Minister Rolandas Paksas, aged 46, pulled off a major upset in Lithuania's presidential runoff Sunday, unseating the strongly favored incumbent Valdas Adamkus with an aggressive campaign that consisted of a daring stunt flight.
Paksas received 55 percent of the vote, while President Valdas Adamkus had 45 percent, according to preliminary results. Final results will be announced on January 10, the Central Election Commission said, cited by AP.
"I always said I would win," Paksas declared, as his supporters cheered on, and added, "I know the problems of this country and I know how to solve them."
A former Prime Minister who founded the rightwing Liberal Democratic party, he has pledged to keep the Baltic country’s Western-oriented foreign policy on track.
The new president is scheduled to take office at the end of February. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
