Politics
President Grybauskaitė resolute to fight corruption among politicians
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė has named ways to prevent corruption on the LRT radio show “60 minučių”. […]
Politics
Politics
Lithuania’s social democrats retain popularity despite corruption scandals
Recent scandals of alleged corruption surrounding the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) should not damage the party’s popularity, says Romas Mačiūnas, a sociologist at public opinion and market research company Baltijos Tyrimai. In early October, before the party came into the media attention following corruption accusations, the social democrats were supported by a quarter of all voters, a similar number as in September. […]
Politics
Lithuanian MEPs will risk their seats when running for national parliament
The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has adopted amendments to election laws that will prevent members of the European Parliament, municipal councils and town mayors from running for parliament without risking their mandates. […]
Politics
Lithuanian president appoints new judges
President Dalia Grybauskaitė has signed a decree on the appointment of nine judges of district courts and administered their oaths. […]
Politics
Lithuanian institutions demand extra funding to address terrorism threats
Reacting to the terrorist attacks in France, Lithuania’s Parliamentary National Security and Defence Committee has requested additional funding for the State Security Department, the Lithuanian Police Anti-Terrorist Operations Unit, Aras, and the State Border Guard Service. The committee requests to designate 14.4 million euro to these institutions in next year’s budget. […]
Politics
Lithuania’s liberals propose EUR 15m extra funding for counter-terrorism programmes
The Liberal Movement political group in the Lithuanian parliament has proposed to boost funding for counter-terrorism effort by additional EUR 15 million starting in 2016. […]
Politics
There should be no fears about security in Lithuania, PM’s spokeswoman says
The prime minister‘s spokeswoman Evelina Butkutė-Lazdauskienė says that even if Lithuania is shocked by the events in Paris, it is not frightened. […]
Politics
Lithuanian president’s adviser: People running from war are not terrorists
Chief advisor to the Lithuanian president on national security Valdemaras Sarapinas says that people running from war should not be called terrorists and Lithuania will stay committed to the European Union‘s (EU) refugee relocation plan. […]
Politics
Lithuanian interior minister proposes to collect PNR data for internal EU flights
The Minister of the Interior of Lithuania, Saulius Skvernelis, believes that Passenger Name Records (PNR) must be collected not only on external EU flights but on internal ones as well. According to the minister, Lithuania is ready to unilaterally launch the PNR system already in 2016. […]
Politics
Lithuanian parliament to consider citizens’ legislative proposal on name spelling
A group in Lithuania collected 69,000 signatures under a petition which obligates parliament to consider a proposed bill on name spelling in personal identification documents. The initiative, calling itself “Talka – for Lithuania’s State Language”, seeks to pass a law saying that only Lithuanian characters can be used in passports and other official documents. Lithuania’s Polish-speaking community has been voicing demands to allow the use original non-Lithuanian name spelling in passports. […]
Politics
Lithuanian PM: No change in refugee resettlement plans after Paris attacks
Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius says that terrorism threat remains low in Lithuania, despite recent attacks in Paris. The head of Government added that a counter-terrorism unit will be reopened at the State Security Department (VSD). […]
Politics
President Grybauskaitė: Terrorism has no borders
Prior to leaving for Paris to participate in the Leaders’ Forum of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), President Dalia Grybauskaitė emphasised that everyone must join efforts and look at the fight against terrorism anew because this challenge needs a united response. […]
Politics
Lithuanian PM calls emergency meeting on security
The Lithuanian prime minister is summoning the minister of the interior and the State Security Department head for an urgent meeting on security following tragic terrorist attacks in Paris. […]
Politics
Seimas anti-corruption body to look into corruption allegations against social democratic and conservative politicians
The Seimas Anti-Corruption Commission, which has been granted an ad hoc investigative powers, will into corruption allegations surrounding social democratic politicians in Druskininkai and also the activities of influential Conservatives and their families. […]
Politics
Lithuanian parliament to extend session in order to adopt Labour Code reform
After a meeting with Parliament Speaker Loreta Graužinienė, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius has said that the Lithuanian parliament’s autumn session could be extended to adopt the new social model. […]
Politics
Lithuanian parliament refuses to vote on controversial ‘denigration of family’ bill
The Lithuanian parliament voted to remove the controversial bill on ‘denigration’ of family values from its agenda. The law, which rights groups say would restrict freedom of expression, such as LGBT pride marches, was to be put for the final vote on Thursday. […]
Politics
Lithuanian PM supports forced alcoholism treatment
Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius says that he supports the proposal of introducing mandatory treatment of alcoholism in the country and believes that preparations for the programme could take around a year. […]
Politics
Reform of Lithuania’s Border Guard Service approved
On Wednesday, the Lithuanian Government approved structural reforms of the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) which had been put forward by Minister of the Interior Saulius Skvernelis. The reform is expected to help save funds on management costs, increase staff wages, boost their motivation, augment external border protection with material and human resources. […]
Politics
Ethics watchdog asked to look into racist statement by Lithuanian MP
Social Democratic MP Juras Požela has asked the Seimas Commission on Ethics and Procedures to look into a statement by Liberal MP Dalia Teišerskytė where she compared an African-American with a toilet. […]
Politics
Lithuanian PM disagrees that income gap is growing
Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius has contested suggestions that social exclusion in the country is growing. […]