Expats.lt

The most recent survey indicates that Lithuanians continue to have a strong preference for President Gitanas Nauseda, with a favorability rating of 21.8%. This rating, while slightly lower than the 24.2% recorded three months ago, still places him in the top position.

During the survey conducted from September 22 to October 7, respondents were asked to identify the public figures they trust the most. Notable individuals on the list include former President Dalia Grybauskaite, who saw her favorability rating rise to 8.1% (from 7.4% in June). Saulius Skvernelis, the leader of the Democratic Union “Vardan Lietuvos,” held the third position with a favorability rating of 6.5%, down from 8.4% in the previous survey.

Vilija Blinkeviciute, the leader of the Social Democrats, maintained a similar favorability rating of 6.4% (compared to 7.4% in June). Attorney Ignas Vėgėlė, known for his involvement in presidential elections, made it into the top five most favorably rated politicians, with a rating of 5.5% (up from 4.8%).

Other notable figures in the survey included former President Valdas Adamkus (5.3%), Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė (4.9%), public figure Andrius Tapinas (4.1%), Mayor of Kaunas Visvaldas Matijošaitis (3%), and Minister of National Defense Arvydas Anušauskas (2.9%). Their ratings remained relatively stable over the past three months.

Outside the top ten, Seimas Speaker Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen (2.2%), parliamentarian Remigijus Žemaitaitis (2.1%), “Farmers” Party leader Ramūnas Karbauskis (2%), and Conservative Party leader Gabrielius Landsbergis (1.8%) received lower favorability ratings.

In total, 87 public figures were mentioned by respondents in September 2023, down from 88 in the previous survey three months earlier. A quarter of those surveyed (26%) stated that they either had no trust in any public figures or did not respond to the question.

The survey results may reflect a growing sense of apathy among the population toward political debates, which sociologist Rasa Ališauskienė suggests could be due to recurring themes and a lack of significant political developments.

While these ratings provide insights into the visibility of politicians, Rasa Ališauskienė notes that frequent mentions in the rankings can enhance a politician’s recognition and potentially improve their starting position in future elections.

The survey involved 1023 respondents aged 18 and above and had a margin of error of up to 3.1%.