Another failed approach to legalization of diacritics in documents

Another failed approach to the legalization of diacritics in documents. Deputies returned the project to the authors for refinement. However, the favourable attitude of the leaders of the ruling parties allows for some optimism in the future.

The draft amendment to the Act on the spelling of names and surnames was submitted for the second time by the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Union of Christian Families. The draft includes extension of the set of letters with diacritics that can be used in documents.

he regulations in force from May this year allow the use of digraphs, double letters and “q”, “w”, “x” in writing of names and surnames. However, two applications are still pending before the Constitutional Court. The first, from the General Prosecutor’s Office, concerns clarification whether the current regulations are not discriminatory. The second was submitted by Eugenijus Jovaisa. In the application, he demands the annulment of the current amendment. In an interview for Lithuanian public television, he undermined the civic attitude of deputy Beata Pietkiewicz, who changed the spelling of her name to the original one.

Unfortunately, deputy Jovaiša has declined to comment twice for “Info Vilnius”.

The attitude of the leaders of the ruling parties brings optimism, as they are in favour of finding a complete solution to this issue.

Starting a debate among politicians in today’s sitting is an important step. It is true that after the first reading the draft was returned to the authors for refinement. However, it was not definitively rejected.