(Lithuania has elected its first female president, Dalia Grybauskaite, who is a former finance minister and the European Union's current budget commissioner.)
The 53-year-old ran as an independent candidate, enhancing her popularity in contrast to the main political parties, whose standings were hit by the economic downturn and allegations of corruption.
Results from the national electoral commission showed Grybauskaite, who ran as an independent candidate, had an unassailable mandate. She obtained a resounding 69.04 percent of the vote in the seven-candidate first round, avoiding the need for a run-off on June 7.
Her nearest challenger, Social Democrat Algirdas Butkevicius, a 50-year-old former government minister, was far behind with 11.85 percent and conceded defeat.
Turnout among the country's 2.7 million registered voters was 51.67 percent.
Grybauskaite will become Lithuania's fifth president since it broke free from Soviet rule in 1990. Although it has never had a female president, the country first post-independence prime minister was a woman: Kazimira Prunskiene, now 66, who also stood unsuccessfully for president.
Ms Grybauskaite is a seasoned political operator with a reputation as an "Iron Lady". She says her political models include the original bearer of that nickname, Margaret Thatcher, but also Mahatma Gandhi for his selfless service to others.
"I'm very frank and direct, maybe sometimes too much so. I say what I think and not everyone likes that," she said.
"I believe in transparency and I will demand that quality from everyone," she said.
"I don't appreciate liars or late-comers."
Ms Grybauskaite is not a member of a party and stood as a non-partisan candidate. She was nonetheless backed by the ruling Conservatives, who defeated the Social Democrats in last October's general election. She has warned them that she is also keeping an eye on their government.
"I'm independent, and that gives people hope that I'll treat everyone the same way," she said, in a nod to Lithuanians fed up with party-focused political shenanigans and vested economic interests.
The Lithuanian president's main role is to steer foreign policy, and Grybauskaite has said she wants to try and soften the strong language often directed towards Vilnius's former master Moscow. But she has also said that the economic crisis calls for a more active role on the home front.
"She is coming with a very clear message of change," Conservative Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said.
Economic is the key issue during the presidential compaign, and Ms Grybauskaite's experience as both the country's finance minister and the EU budget chief contributed to her success.
Orignal From: Lithuania elects first female president
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