Chamber:
	Seimas
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	20 October 1996 10 November 1996
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	On 9 April 1996, a decree issued by President of the Republic Algirdas Brazauskas set the election date for 20 October and the second round of voting, if necessary, for 10 November. Main contestants were the ruling Democratic Labour Party (LDLP), the social- democratic successor of the Communist Party of Lithuania, led by Mr. C. Jursenas; the Conservative Party (Homeland Union) - founded in 1993 from elements of Sajudis (the Reform Movement which had paved the way to sovereignty) - chaired by Mr. V. Landsbergis, considered the hero of Lithuania's independence drive in 1991; and the Conservatives' allies - the Christian Democratic Party and the Centre Union. Pre-election polls favoured the right-wing opposition over LDLP, which was criticised for the country's economic stagnation and had been plagued by financial scandals, including one involving former Prime Minister A. Slezevicius. As the rival forces generally agreed on foreign policy (especially affiliation to NATO and the European institutions), the economy was at the forefront of campaign debate, as four years earlier when LDLP had won out on the same basis. Mr. Landsbergis, for his part, ran on an anti-corruption platform, promising improvement and stability on the domestic scene. Altogether 1352 candidates (considerably more than in 1992) vied for the 141 seats at stake. Polling day was marked by a relatively low turnout. Only two of the 71 majority seats were won outright in the first round, with runoffs on 10 November being required for 65 others (new elections were to be held in the four remaining constituencies). The second round also saw a low turnout. Final results gave the edge to the conservative camp, which was markedly more unified than in the past. On 25 November, the newly elected Parliament held its first session and elected Mr. Landsbergis as Speaker. The new Council of Ministers, headed by Prime Minister Gediminas Vagnorius, was formed on 4 December.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (20 October 1996): Elections results
Number of registered electors	2,597,530
Voters	1,374,612 (52.92%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	67,751
Valid votes	1,306,861

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	%
Homeland Union - Conservatives	29.8
Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party	12.2
The Centre Union of Lithuania	8.2
Lithuanian Democratic Labour Party	9.5
Lithuanian Social Democratic Party	6.6
Lithuanian Democratic Party	2.1
Independents	10.9
Others	20.7

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total	Gain/Loss
Homeland Union - Conservatives	70	+70
Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party	16	+7
The Centre Union of Lithuania	13	+11
Lithuanian Democratic Labour Party	12	-61
Lithuanian Social Democratic Party	12	+4
Lithuanian Democratic Party	2	-2
Independents	4	+3
Others	8	n.a

Comments:
	Excluding 4 vacant seats

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	113
Women:	24

Distribution of seats according to age:
21- 30 years	4
31- 40 years	37
41- 50 years	36
51- 60 years	39
61- 70 years	19
Over 70 years	2
Distribution of seats according to profession:
Civil servants	84
State education, culture and sports institutions	19
Organisations with private capital	14
State manufacturing/services enterprises	8
Party and political organisations	5
Others	7