Politics
President signs citizenship amendments into law
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė has signed amendments to the Law on Citizenship, allowing people with “great merit” to the Lithuanian state to keep dual citizenship. […]
Politics
Politics
Reform of tax system ‘should be key platform for Social Democrats’ in election
Lithuania’s Social Democratic Party needs to run on a truly social democratic platform, centred around a reformed and fairer tax system and social services in this year’s elections ,according to European Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis. […]
Politics
PM sceptical about setting up new institutions in wake of Saviečiai double homicide
After a tragedy in Kėdainiai District when a father killed his two children by throwing them into a well, the government will consider giving more power to the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service, Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius told LRT radio. […]
Politics
Prime minister orders investigation into tragedy in Kėdainiai district
Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius ordered the Ministry of Social Security and Labour to carry out an investigation whether there was a proper control over the actions regarding families at risk, what measures have been taken to put an end to domestic violence, after the tragic events in Saviečiai village in Kėdainiai district. […]
Politics
Parties allowed to spend up to €2.2m on election campaigns
Political parties will be allowed to spend €2.2 million on their campaigns in this year’s general elections, the Central Electoral Commission said on Monday. […]
Politics
President speaks out about collective responsibility after Saviečiai tragedy
President Dalia Grybauskaitė said not only the state but society as well had to take care of children growing up in dysfunctional families after the tragic events in Saviečiai village in Kėdainiai district when a 36-year-old father killed his two children by throwing them into a well. […]
Politics
Corruption investigation will not affect government functioning, PM says
Corruption allegations made against the Order and Justice party, one of the governing coalition partners, does not threaten the government, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius says. The party’s future in the coalition will be considered only after a legal verdict is passed. […]
Politics
New agency set up to tackle alcoholism in Lithuania
With the extent of alcoholism and the damage done by intoxicated persons failing to decrease in Lithuania the government is launching a new initiative in alcohol prevention by establishing the National Public Health Promotion Foundation. […]
Politics
Tax collection breakthrough gives finance minister optimism for 2016 deficit budget
Finance Minister Rimantas Šadžius says that 2015 was a breakthrough in tax collection for Lithuania and that extra revenue is projected for 2016. […]
Politics
Labour party will not ask Seimas speaker Loreta Graužinienė to step down despite widespread disapproval
With less than a year left until the Seimas (parliament) elections, the Labour Party is not planning to ask Loreta Graužinienė to leave the Seimas speaker‘s position. However, not only the opposition, but some MPs from the ruling coalition are dissatisfied with the politician. […]
Politics
New prosecutor general promises changes to office in first press conference
In the first press conference organized by the new Prosecutor General Evaldas Pašilis since he was sworn in two days ago, he promised changes in the Prosecutor’s Office. […]
Politics
Party charged with influence peddling and money laundering by investigators
The Special Investigation Service‘s (STT) Vilnius Department has brought charges against the Order and Justice political party over suspicions of influence peddling and money laundering. […]
Politics
Why did Darius Raulušaitis withdraw from the Prosecutor General’s Office?
On Tuesday, the General Prosecutor’s Office reported that Darius Raulušaitis, who had been serving as a temporary Prosecutor General, withdrew from the Prosecutor General’s Office. D. Raulušaitis had held the position since June, when former Prosecutor General Darius Valys’ term ended. […]
Politics
Evaldas Pašilis sworn in as Lithuania’s prosecutor general
The Lithuanian president signed a decree on Tuesday, appointing Evaldas Pašilis as the country’s prosecutor general. […]
Politics
President Grybauskaitė on government’s 2015 accomplishments: strategy of idleness is not productive
Looking back at the achievements of the government headed by social democratic Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius over 2015, President Dalia Grybauskaitė says that while there are considerable accomplishments, procrastination in certain area will mean that the next government will inherit serious problems. […]
Politics
Lithuanian MP suggests denying benefits to heavy drinkers
A member of the Lithuanian parliament has proposed legal amendments denying benefits to individuals who indulge in “anti-social behaviour”. […]
Politics
EU Commissioner Andriukaitis: Paksas should not be held hostage to the situation
Lithuania should adopt constitutional amendments to allow Rolandas Paksas, the impeached former president, to run for elected office, says Vytenis Andriukaitis, European commissioner for health and food safety and member of the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania. However, he is critical of a recent resolution passed by the Lithuanian parliament, advocating Paksas’ rehabilitation. […]
Politics
Lithuania’s ruling parties usurped legislation, opposition complains
Almost 5,000 legislative bills have been registered at the Lithuanian parliament since it took oath in 2012. A third of them have been proposed by the ruling Social Democratic Party. The opposition says that the governing majority has usurped the legislative process and do not want to discuss their proposals, lzinios.lt reports. […]
Politics
PM Butkevičius says Lithuania became energy independent in 2015
Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius says the euro introduction, power interconnections with Poland and Sweden, and reforming the Labour Code are Lithuania’s three biggest achievements of 2015. He also reviews the country’s future plans for 2016 on TV programme Alfa Savaitė. […]
Politics
Head of Lithuania’s National Land Service resigns after suspected drunk driving accident
Daiva Gineikaitė, the chief of Lithuania’s National Land Service under the Ministry of Agriculture who is suspected of involvement in a drunk driving accident, is stepping down. […]