European Union budget commissioner¹ Dalia Grybauskaite has claimed victory in Lithuania's presidential election.

欧盟财政预算委员Dalia Grybauskait宣布获得立陶宛总统选举的胜利。

Grybauskaite has been at the European Commission for five years

"I am grateful for the responsibility invested in me," she said, after Sunday's first round of the vote.

With some 36% of the vote counted, she had 68% backing, according to preliminary results. Turnout was just more than 50%.

To avoid a run-off a candidate needs 50% of the vote with at least 50% of the eligible² voters（合格选民） taking part.

If turnout is below 50%, a candidate needs backing from a third of all eligible voters.

The second round - if required - would be held on 7 June.

If confirmed, Ms Grybauskaite, aged³ 53, would become Lithuania's first ever female president.

The first round of the polls was held amid widespread concern about the economic downturn in the Baltic state.

Seven candidates contested the elections.

Social Democrat⁴ lawmaker Algirdas Butkevicius, Ms Grybauskaite's nearest challenger, was running a distant second with 12% of the vote.

Final figures are expected later on Sunday.

'Level-headed'

Ms Grybauskaite, the EU's tough-talking budget commissioner who has a black belt in karate⁵（空手道）, was running as an independent.

Lithuania's crashing economy has dominated what little policy debate this presidential election has generated, the BBC's Adam Easton says.

Ms Grybauskaite has been critical of the way the economy has been handled by governments in the past.

"Our local political establishment is so boring for people, and they want to see some new faces," she told reporters after voting in the capital Vilnius.

"In the difficult times I can give my experience, my knowledge to my country," Ms Grybauskaite added.

She is widely seen as being a level-headed caretaker and has also avoided being tainted⁶（感染的，污染的） by domestic scandals, our correspondent says.

After enjoying years of impressive growth since it joined the European Union in 2004, Lithuania is experiencing double digit⁷ economic contraction⁸ and rising unemployment.

Frustration⁹ turned into violence in January when demonstrators smashed windows in the parliament building in Vilnius.