Municipal Election System in Lithuania: challenges and changes (1990-2015)

Municipal elections is the core element of local democracy. After restoration of Lithuanian Independence in 1990 there has been constant search for an optimal municipal election system. Several significant changes in municipal elections system has been made during 25 years period: 1) introducing proportional election system instead of majority system in 1995; 2) introducing possibility to stand for election for nonpartisan list or independent candidates in 2011; 3) introducing direct election of mayors in 2015, etc. These and other amendments of Law on elections to municipal councils will be analysed in the paper. The paper aims to evaluate the changes in the electoral system and examine the attitude of political parties regarding them. We will analyse discussions among political parties presented in media. Other sources of the research was legal documents (Law on elections to municipal councils and its amendments, decisions of Constitutional Court) as well the transcripts of Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) plenary sittings.