Lithuania elections 2014: Dalia Grybauskaite predicted to secure second term

Lithuania is holding presidential elections, with incumbent Dalia Grybauskaite widely predicted to secure her second term.

Recent opinion polls gave Dalia Grybauskaite a big lead over her closest rivals: lawmaker Arturas Paulauskas and European Parliament member Zigmantas Balcytis.

Dalia Grybauskaite, 58, is hoping to secure more than 50% of the votes to avoid a run-off.

The election comes amid rising security concerns in the region after Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Polling stations across the Baltic state will open at 04:00 GMT and will close at 17:00 GMT.

Some 2.5 million people are eligible to cast their ballots.

With Dalia Grybauskaite seen by many as a hot favorite, critics say the campaigning lacked energy.

“I have never seen in any country such a dull election campaign,” former President Valdas Adamkus was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.

First results are expected shortly after the voting ends.