2018 05 18 Formulation of referendum on dual citizenship established in Lithuania

The Seimas working group resolving issues of referendum on dual citizenship has decided upon the formulation provided for referendum on dual citizenship.

It is proposed to provide for in Article 12 of the Constitution that “Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania shall be acquired at birth and on other grounds established by the Constitutional Law. Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania by origin, who have acquired the citizenship of another state chosen by the Republic of Lithuania and consistent with the criteria of European and transatlantic integration established under the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Lithuania, shall not lose the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania. In other cases, a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania may not be a citizen of another state, except for the cases provided by the Constitutional Law. The procedure for the acquisition and loss of citizenship is established by the Constitutional Law.” 

The Seimas working group has considered 3 possible formulations thereof and selected the formulation suggested by prof. dr. Vytautas Sinkevičius and dr. Ingrida Danėlienė. 

At the next meeting, the working group is preparing to discuss the Constitutional Law and consider the exceptions thereof.

At present, Article 12 of the Constitution provides for that “Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania shall be acquired by birth or on other grounds established by law. With the exception of individual cases provided for by law, no one may be a citizen of both the Republic of Lithuania and another state at the same time. The procedure for the acquisition and loss of citizenship shall be established by law.”

Referendum on dual citizenship in Lithuania will be held in 2019 with Presidential elections herewith, through the first and second round of Presidential elections. The first round of Presidential elections in Lithuania is due to be held on 12 May 2019, whereas the second round thereof – on 26 May 2019.

The Lithuanian World Community has doubts whether it is possible to properly prepare for referendum already in 2019.

The Chairwoman of the Lithuanian World Community Dalia Henke states that it may be impossible to properly prepare for referendum in 2019, in such case it could be held in 2020, in tandem with Elections to the Seimas.

 MIGRATION LAW CENTER