In that case the Constitution would state that a Lithuanian citizen by descent would not lose his/hers Lithuanian citizenship when assuming citizenship of a country chosen by Lithuania and matching European and transatlantic integration criteria.
In other cases a Lithuanian citizen could not also be a citizen of a foreign country, except for exceptions provided for by the constitutional law.
The panel on Friday chose such a formulation for the dual citizenship referendum from three versions discussed.
The panel’s chairman Arvydas Nekrošius, representing the ruling Lithuanian Farmers and greens Union, said the proposal to include the Euro-Atlantic direction into the Constitution is aimed at preventing possible threats from the East. And South American countries with large Lithuanian communities could be included into a constitutional law.
“We plan to discuss the constitutional law and what exceptions might be. Our goal is to help those diasporas abroad, not included in the Constitution, to be included elsewhere,” Nekrošius told BNS Lithuania.
Lithuanians living abroad are asking for a referendum on dual citizenship to be held as those who emigrated after Lithuania’s independence on March 11, 1990 are not allowed dual citizenship, except for certain cases.
The Lithuanian government is considering holding such a referendum alongside the upcoming presidential election next year.