Campaign and Results
| Parties and coalitions | Seats won |
Endorsed by Sąjūdis |
|---|---|---|
| Independents | 64 | 58 |
| Communist Party of Lithuania (independent) | 46 | 17 |
| Lithuanian Social-Democratic Party | 9 | 9 |
| Communist Party of Lithuania (CPSU) | 7 | – |
| Lithuanian Green Party | 4 | 4 |
| Lithuanian Democratic Party | 3 | 1 |
| Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party | 2 | 2 |
| Young Communist League of Lithuania | – | – |
| Turnout: 71.72% | 135 | 91 |
The main competition was between Sąjūdis and CPL (independent). While both camps agreed on the eventual goal of independent Lithuania, Sąjūdis advocated acting quickly without fearing Moscow's reaction and CPL campaigned for a step-by-step approach to avoid conflict with Moscow. Even though Sąjūdis was not a political party and was not reflected in any official statistics, its endorsements had immense influence on candidate's electability because the votes would be cast not for party lists, but for specific personalities. Such endorsements would be handed out based on personal merits and without regard to political affiliation. Therefore, a number of CPL members was backed by Sąjūdis. Other parties were formed just recently and did not enjoy widespread popularity. Of all parties participating only CPL (CPSU) did not support Lithuanian independence.
A total of 522 candidates registered for the election, but 50 dropped out before the election day. Of the remaining 472 candidates, 201 were proposed by the CPL (independent), 139 were nonpartisans, and 79 were listed by CPL (CPSU). After the first round of voting, 90 delegates were elected. In 51 constituencies, the run-off elections were held in early March. Originally scheduled for March 10, the run-off was pushed forward whenever possible so that the Supreme Soviet could meet as soon as possible. Due to low voter turnout (primarily in areas where Polish and Russian minorities concentrated), elections in six constituencies were invalid. In total, 91 out of 135 deputies were endorsed by Sąjūdis. Note that different sources often provide different breakdown between Sąjūdis, nonpartisan, and CPL (independent) delegates as the division was not clear-cut: Sąjūdis did not have formal membership while CPL kept losing its members. CPL (independent), despite internal reforms and push for independence, fared rather poorly. Observers note that the communists ran a passive campaign and lacked personalities that could compete with prominent intellectuals of Sąjūdis. Also, the campaign was framed as a referendum for Lithuania's independence – all those in support were morally obligated to vote for Sąjūdis.
Read more about this topic: Lithuanian Parliamentary Election, 1990
Famous quotes containing the words campaign and, campaign and/or results:
“The fact that a man is to vote forces him to think. You may preach to a congregation by the year and not affect its thought because it is not called upon for definite action. But throw your subject into a campaign and it becomes a challenge.”
—John Jay Chapman (1862–1933)
“The fact that a man is to vote forces him to think. You may preach to a congregation by the year and not affect its thought because it is not called upon for definite action. But throw your subject into a campaign and it becomes a challenge.”
—John Jay Chapman (1862–1933)
“Intellectual despair results in neither weakness nor dreams, but in violence.... It is only a matter of knowing how to give vent to one’s rage; whether one only wants to wander like madmen around prisons, or whether one wants to overturn them.”
—Georges Bataille (1897–1962)