Lithuanian president wins first round of election

Lithuanian incumbent President Dalia Grybauskaite won the first round of the presidential election and will face her top challenger in the runoff scheduled for May 25, the Central Electoral Commission said Monday.

Preliminary results showed Grybauskaite won 45.89 percent of the vote, while Social Democratic candidate Zigmantas Balcytis and Labour Party candidate Arturas Paulauskas gathered 13.63 percent and 12.02 percent respectively, Xinhua reported

Some 52.14 percent of the 2.55 million voters cast their ballots Sunday.

"The people have decided that there will be a second round. I would like to thank all Lithuanian people that I had received almost 47 percent of the vote, this is a big trust," Grybauskaite said Monday.

Grybauskaite, also referred to as "Steel Magnolia", assumed presidential duties July 12, 2009, and became the first ever woman president of Lithuania.