Polling stations for presidential elections open in Lithuania

Polling stations for the first round of presidential elections were opened in Lithuania this morning.

There are nine candidates in the race, not including the current president, Dalija Grybauskaite, who could not run for office after two five-year mandates, reported Agence France-Presse.

The campaign focused on domestic issues such as the economy, corruption, and welfare, although foreign policy and defense are two of the president's main purview.

The leading candidates are Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis, former economist Gitan Naused and former Minister of Finance Ingrida Simonita.

Thanks to her anti-Russian views, stylish dressing and black belt in karate, Dalija Grybauskaite was nicknamed the "Iron Lady", as Margaret Thatcher was also called when she was the Prime Minister of Great Britain.