After discussing the name-spelling bills with Justice Minister Milda Vainiutė on Friday, Pranckietis said the law should be adopted during the fall session.
“We are talking about two versions, the ministry supported the version where married people, foreigners and children would have the letters on the main page. As to the second version of all the diacritical signs on the second page only and the transcription on the first page, the ministry did not support it. It was great to hear that the ministry supports the version we propose in accordance to the conclusion from the Commission for the Lithuanian Language,” the parliamentary speaker told journalists after the meeting.
Asked whether the bill would allow the original spelling on the first page for the local Poles, Pranckietis said: “It is a normal step in the direction of the local Poles, and they can also prove the presence of their letters in passports and the original name-spelling.”
Vainiutė, the justice minister, also noted that the specific list of documents proving the original name-spelling would be established by law.
One of the versions discussed at the Lithuanian parliament suggests allowing non-Lithuanian characters on the main page of passports, while the alternative bill envisages the use of non-Lithuanian letters of the Latin alphabet on an additional page.
The government has given a green light to the bill that would allow x, w and q, which do not exist in the Lithuanian alphabet, on the main page of passports.
The amendments would allow the original spelling for Lithuania’s Polish community, if the applicants provide a source of the non-Lithuanian version of his or her first and last name.
The possibility would also be available to Lithuanians who assume names of their foreign spouses.
Be the first to comment