“When you put these two things together – the survey results and the growing support for the National Alliance and for me as a potential mayoral candidate – as well as residents’ concerns about issues only we are raising, I feel not only the opportunity and the need, but also a responsibility to run in the election,” MP Sinica told a press conference at the Seimas on Monday.
“I, Vytautas Sinica, by decision of the National Alliance Council, will be our party’s candidate in the Vilnius mayoral election,” he announced.
Sinica, the party’s only lawmaker, added the party would field candidates in “around a dozen” municipalities but said no final decisions had been taken on specific candidates or lists.
A poll by Spinter Tyrimai presented at the event showed current mayor Valdas Benkunskas leading preferred candidates with 30%, followed by Artūras Zuokas on 15% and Sinica on 9%.
The survey also found 50% of respondents see traffic as Vilnius’ most urgent problem, while 37% cite the integration of foreigners and 35% mention heating costs.
Several candidates have already declared their bids for the capital’s mayoral race. The Liberal Movement is backing Simonas Gentvilas, while the Freedom Party has nominated current deputy mayor Vytautas Mitalas.
Former Vilnius mayor Artūras Zuokas is also running as an independent and plans to form a civic committee called “Vilnius gali”.
Benkunskas has not yet said whether he will seek re-election. Local elections are due in spring 2027.