Lithuanian PM Skvernelis to step down

Lithuanian PM Saulius Skvernelis announced he will be steping down after failing to qualify for the second round in the country’s presidential election.

Skvernelis, who was one of the expected front runners in the vote, said he planned to resign as PM in July.

Skvernelis admitted defeat but said he had “really believed” he would get through to the next stage.

Partial results suggest that prominent economist Gitanas Nauseda topped the first round, followed by former Finance Minister Ingrida Simonyte.

The pair will face each other in a run-off May 26.

The winner will succeed the popular President Dalia Grybauskaite after her second and final five-year term.

Grybauskaite has been a strong critic of President Vladimir Putin of Russia, which borders Lithuania, and has focused on tackling corruption in her country.

Via BBC