The ruling conservatives – Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats – will receive the lion's share of over 2.563 million, the Commission has announced on its website. Funding for political parties is determined according to votes they received in the last general election.
The opposition Social Democratic Party of Lithuania will get over 1.758 million litas, followed by the Order and Justice Party (over 1.310 million). The ruling Liberal and Center Union will receive not only almost 731,000 it is entitled to, but also over 826,000 intended for the National Revival Party, which has merged with the Liberal and Center Union. So the total payment will stand at over 1.557 million litas.
The Labor Party is set to receive over 1.064 million, including the share of the New Union which has also merged.
The ruling Liberal Movement will be paid over 696,000, followed by the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania (over 653,000) and the Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union (over 535,000).
All in all, 20.278 million litas have been allocated for political parties from this year's budget, as compared to over 5.4 million last year and over 9.5 million in 2010. Payments from the state budget were increased earlier this year, after a law banning business companies from making donations to political parties came into effect.
