VILNIUS - Lithuania's main centre-right opposition won the first round of a parliamentary election, results showed yesterday, but it faced tough coalition talks after populist parties, including one fronted by a well-known TV show host, did well.
"Any conclusion about a possible coalition would be premature and unwise, but I see a good chance to picking a coalition for change," Andrius Kubilius, head of the victorious Homeland Union Party, told a news conference.
Nearly final results from the vote in the EU and Nato member showed Homeland Union winning 18 seats in the 141-member parliament under voting for party lists, which decide 70 seats.
But a colourful gaggle of other parties, as well as the ruling Social Democrats, came in close behind it, making future coalition negotiations tricky.
The newly formed National Resurrection Party, led by Arunas Valinskas, host of an American Idol-style talent show, was set for 15 seats.
