VILNIUS: Lithuania's opposition Conservatives were within reach of power for the first time since 2000, as they trounced the ruling Social Democrats in a general election run-off. As jubilant Conservative supporters heard that they had a clear edge, Conservative leader Andrius Kubilius told reporters he was poised for talks with three smaller parties on forming a centre-right coalition government. Final results showed the Conservatives had stretched the lead they achieved in the first round on October 12, with a combined two-round total of 44 seats to the Social Democrats' 26. With their allies, the Conservatives could control at least 79 seats in the 141-member parliament, enough to push through their policies, unlike the Social Democrats, whose five-party coalition barely controlled the chamber. Critics often said the outgoing Social Democratic government's numerical weakness made it duck unpopular reforms, notably of the public sector. Conservative party manifesto centred on strict family values, in this mainly Roman Catholic country, but also on reforms designed to tackle a looming economic crisis.
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