Simasius says won't seek 3rd term as Vilnius mayor

Remigijus Simasius, one of the leaders of the liberal Freedom Party, said on Thursday that he will not seek a third term as the mayor of Vilnius.

"I will not run for Vilnius mayor in 2023," Simasius posted on Facebook. "I believe two terms are the optimal time to prove your capabilities, achieve great results [and] create long-term changes."

"And, at the same time, not to identify yourself with the role, not to merge with it [and] not to lose yourself," he added. "Cities are changing rapidly [and] people at the helm must change, too."

Simasius won the seat of the Lithuanian capital's mayor in direct elections in 2015 and was reelected in 2019.