Govt favours cutting MP seats, bringing general election date forward

“We approved of reducing the number of Seimas members and we agreed that the election date needs to be brought forward. As to how many members of the Seimas should represent (citizens) and when elections should be held, discussions are ongoing in the Seimas,” Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis told reporters.

“There are different proposals as to the date: perhaps not in March, but in early September, because it would also give (the new government) about a month and half to two months to get into the budget formation process. Possibly, such reduction of the (current legislative) term would be more successful,” the prime minister said.

“As to the number of Seimas members, I believe we do agree that it can be reduced,” he added.

The initiators of the initiative cite the country’s declining population as the reason for cutting the number of seats in the parliament.

Lithuania currently has a population of 2.850 million, down from 3.7 million in 1992, when the Constitution was adopted.

Critics of the initiative argue, however, that the move, if approved, will lead to worse representation of voters’ interests and that fewer votes will be required to pass further constitutional amendments or controversial laws.