VILNIUS, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian MP Ingrida Simonyte has taken the lead in the latest poll, overtaking economist Gitanas Nauseda with 3 weeks left to the presidential elections in Lithuania, according to the survey released on Saturday.
According to the latest public survey by market and opinion research center Vilmorus, conducted on April 4-13, Simonyte, 44, the MP backed by the country's conservative party and the former finance minister, has received support of 22.3 percent. Economist Gitanas Nauseda, 54, ranks second with 21.9 percent.
A month ago, Nauseda was leading the poll with 23.5 percent, and Simonyte ranked second with 22 percent.
Sociologists note the difference between the candidates falls within the margin of error.
"I would say two candidates share the first place - Ingrida Simonyte and Gitanas Nauseda. The difference is only four people per thousand people," sociologist Vladas Gaidys, the head of Vilmorus, told Lithuanian national broadcaster LRT on Saturday.
Gaidys expects different factors would influence the outcome of the presidential race for Simonyte and Nauseda.
"Nauseda's electorate is wider, while Simonyte's electorate is more active in voting," said Gaidys.
The third in the candidates' rankings remains the country's current Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis with 16.7 percent, last month he received support of 18.4 percent.
In total, 9 candidates are running for the President's seat.
Lithuania's incumbent President Dalia Grybauskaite will leave the Office after finishing her second term.
Lithuania, a small Baltic country with a population of 3 million, holds its presidential election on 12th May with the second round scheduled for 26th May if necessary.
