Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite has vetoed the Citizenship Law that extends boundaries for dual citizenship. The President, after consulting specialist yesterday, concluded that even though majority of the new amendments are welcome but the law, which allows dual citizenship to those who have acquired passports of countries of the European Union (EU) or NATO could run counter the Constitution.
“According to the Constitution, dual citizenship is a rare exception, not a common case. Expanding the opportunities for dual citizenship can only be done by amending the Constitution,” the president said in a press release circulated by the President’s Office.
Some politicians, experts and commentators convinced that the amended law contradicts the Constitution that limits cases of dual citizenship. On the day the Seimas had voted for the law the president suggested to call a referendum to change the constitution. The 12 Article of the Lithuanian Constitution states that the dual citizenship is allowed ”with the exception of individual cases provided for by law, no one may be a citizen of both the Republic of Lithuania and another state at the same time.” Vida Bandis, the Lithuanian World Community representative to Lithuania said in a radio interview that such a referendum would kill the hopes for extended dual citizenship.
I just read one article that there is three millions of people living in Lithuania another one million of lithuanians emigrated, so that makes 25% of population! I just don’t know what government of Lithuania thinking about… We are small nation, and this nation will melt… Just in a past year emigrated 42 000 of people…
They should make sure Lithuania losses all it good citizens act. Only citizens from poor countries are likely to surrender their citizenship and ties. So know most people obtaining Lithuania citizenship will be doing on more economic grounds, and not ones on re-identifying with Lithuania. Real smart, with so many Lithuanians living abroad.