Grybauskaite won a clear victory over her nearest rival Dalia Grybauskaite has been elected Lithuania's first female president, according to official results. "I am grateful for the responsibility invested in me," said Ms Grybauskaite, the European Union budget commissioner. With all ballots counted, she won 68.17% of the votes. Turnout at 51.7% was just above the threshold needed to give her an outright first round win. Her nearest challenger, Social Democrat lawmaker Algirdas Butkevicius came a distant second with 12% of the vote. Seven candidates contested the poll which was held amid widespread concern about the economic downturn in the Baltic state. Under the Lithuanian constitution presidents have limited influence over economic policies. Though as president Ms Grybauskaite, whose inauguration is set for 12 July, she will have the right to veto the budget. The president's main power lies in foreign policy and here she has promised to be less confrontational, especially towards Russia. The president also formally appoints the prime minister and the cabinet. 'Level-headed' President-elect Grybauskaite, the EU's tough-talking budget commissioner who has a black belt in karate, ran as an independent. In the difficult times I can give my experience, my knowledge to my country
Dalia Grybauskaite
Lithuanian readers' reaction 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 tainted by domestic scandals, our correspondent says. After enjoying years of impressive growth since it joined the European Union in 2004, Lithuania is experiencing double digit economic contraction and rising unemployment. Frustration turned into violence in January when demonstrators smashed windows in the parliament building in Vilnius.
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Dalia GrybauskaiteDalia Grybauskaite, the budget commissioner for the European Union, has claimed victory in the Lithuanian presidential elections. She received 68 percent of the vote after 96 percent of the ballots were tallied. 

Second place was taken by the Social Democrats' Algirdas Butkevicius, who took about 12% of the vote.

"I am grateful for the responsibility invested in me," Grybauskaite said following the first round of voting on Sunday.

Turnout in the elections was reported at slightly more than fifty percent. A candidate must win at least half the vote in order to avoid a run-off election if the turnout is over 50%. With voter turnout at less than 50%, a candidate needs at least 33% support from all persons eligible to cast a ballot.

If the results are confirmed, Ms Grybauskaite would become the first ever female president of Lithuania.

"I congratulate the Lithuanian people for their choice," she said at her election headquarters. "The taste of victory is the burden of responsibility."