PHOTO: DELFI / Tomas Vinickas
Opposition conservatives propose to amend the Lithuanian Constitution to deprive citizens of Russia and Belarus permanently residing in the country of the opportunity to vote and be elected to local councils. The amendments are necessary to prevent Russia from interfering in EU elections and influencing their results. Especially in view of the growing number of Russian and Belarusian citizens living in Lithuania.
“We propose to restrict or ban citizens of non-European Union (EU) and NATO member states from participating in the elections of councils and mayors of local governments,” Laurynas Kasciunas, chairman of the conservative Fatherland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats party, told a press conference in the Lithuanian Seimas (parliament) on Thursday. Similar bans are in place in Latvia and Estonia, he said.
The conservatives have prepared relevant amendments to the Constitution and the Electoral Code and collected 36 signatures of parliamentarians to submit these drafts to the Seimas.
It is proposed to write into the Constitution that Lithuanian citizens and permanent residents of local governments who are citizens of states that meet the criteria of Lithuania’s chosen European and transatlantic integration can be elected mayors and council members.
The laws now allow all permanent residents of a particular locality to vote and be elected in local elections. Foreigners who have a permanent residence permit in Lithuania and are registered there are also considered as such.
In connection with the conservatives’ proposal to limit the voting rights of third-country nationals permanently residing in Lithuania, Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas, a Social Democrat, said that the idea deserves discussion.
“There is indeed ground for discussion here, and in all likelihood we will have this discussion during the spring session,” the parliament speaker was quoted by Lithuanian Radio and Television LRT as saying.
