“I think the number of politicians should be set taking into account the experience of other countries. Certain contemplations, I believe, are logical, on what the number of Seimas members should be taking in account the size of the state and its population (…). I think the number of Seimas members might be reduced,” he told the Žinių Radijas news radio on Thursday.
Butkevičius said he would back such a proposal as the Lithuanian population has been shrinking lately, although he doubted that the Seimas would back such amendments.
A group of Lithuanian lawmakers suggest cutting the number of seats in the parliament to 101 from the existing 141.
The MPs have registered draft constitutional amendments, signed by 36 lawmakers from various political groups, except for representatives of the opposition Liberal Movement.
The lawmakers behind the draft amendment say the reduction of parliamentary seats would cut expenses, also noting that Lithuania is among European countries with the lowest proportion of the population per one member of the parliament – 21,000 per one MP, which is around a half compared to major European counties.
It’s not the first proposal to reduce the number of lawmakers in Lithuania. There have been earlier suggestions to cut the number to 71, 101 or 111.
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