The draft Act on National Minorities passed second reading

In the Seimas, there is only one step left before the adoption of the Act on National Minorities. On Tuesday, October 1st, the draft bill passed its second reading. 72 deputies supported the draft, seven were against it, and 14 abstained from voting.

“On Wednesday, the amendment to the act will once again be discussed at a meeting of the Human Rights Committee, where we will propose amendments regarding the use of native languages and the education of national minorities in our country. It seems that the final vote on the adoption of the act will take place during the Seimas plenary session after the elections,” commented Rita Tamašunienė, a deputy from the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance (AWPL-ZChR) and the head of the Mixed Group in the Seimas, for Kurier Wileński.

Dobrowolska: “Concise Law”

The current draft from the Ministry of Justice, after amendments made by the Seimas Human Rights Committee, defines what constitutes a national minority and establishes the legal framework and principles for their education, culture, and dissemination of information.

As Ewelina Dobrowolska, the Minister of Justice from the Freedom Party, stated, the act introduces a distinction between migration policy and the policy concerning Lithuanian citizens who belong to national minorities.

“Yes, this law is concise, it sets out basic principles – the prohibition of discrimination, cultural diversity, and education as equally important issues,” said Dobrowolska.

“This law does not regulate bilingual signs, it does not regulate service in another language, it does not regulate the spelling of names… these issues need to be discussed within the framework of other laws,” said Minister Dobrowolska.

Tamašunienė: “We are waiting for a law that will address our issues”

“We supported this draft and voted ‘yes’, as there is a chance to improve and pass the act in the third, final vote. Between the first and second readings, positive changes were made during the committee work, but they are too small to consider the Act on National Minorities a good one. As the Minister of Justice said, it still does not regulate many matters. We are therefore waiting for a law that will regulate the use of native languages in public life, ensure the correct spelling of names, provide schools with native language education, and address other issues,” commented Rita Tamašunienė, a deputy from AWPL-ZChR.

What positive changes were made? The act also provides the right for a representative of a national minority to be educated in their own language.

“We believe that this provision should be expanded, as national minority schools must be protected,” emphasized the deputy. She added that the amendment also includes a provision regarding the respect for all the rights of national minorities listed in the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Pietkiewicz: “The act overlooks national minority issues”

Beata Pietkiewicz, a member of the Seimas from the Lithuanian Regional Party Faction, stated that the discussed act does not address many issues concerning national minorities.

“The act beautifully avoids the most important issues for us, leaving everyone who hoped for real solutions with nothing. With this law, we look like the characters in Andersen’s fairy tale The Emperor’s New Clothes – no one has seen these clothes, but not wanting to appear, excuse me, as hopeless fools, they praise and pretend that the king’s new clothes are amazing,” said the deputy in the Seimas.

According to her, if the act is passed, it will merely “tick off” the recommendations of international organizations for Lithuania regarding the regulation and legalization of legal protection for national minorities.

“For me, as a typical representative of a national minority, like for an ordinary Lithuanian Russian, Tatar, or Belarusian, this act will change nothing in my life,” Pietkiewicz said.

She added that she would support the act because she does not believe that the political forces coming to power will prepare a better draft.