Government voted out - poll

Lithuanians voted their government out in an election yesterday, an exit poll showed.

Lithuanians voted their government out in an election yesterday, an exit poll showed.

The result may be a taste of what awaits other European leaders forced to implement unpopular austerity measures by the financial crisis.

Lithuania is an ex-Soviet state of about three million and crashed hard when the crisis struck four years ago. It made deep budget cuts in response and is now returning to economic health, but too late for voters fed up with austerity.

An exit poll broadcast on national television after voting suggested Lithuanians had rejected centre-right prime minister Andrius Kubilius in favour of a coalition of left-leaning opposition parties who promise to soften the austerity. – (Reuters)