Lithuania: Amendment Allowing Minority Languages for Official Use Removed from Parliamentary Session Agenda

The draft amendment to the Law on National Minorities prepared by the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance (AWPL-ZChR) has been removed from the agenda of the spring session of the Lithuanian parliament. The project aimed to introduce bilingualism in areas inhabited by minority groups.

On Thursday, the draft amendment to the Law on National Minorities, prepared by the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance, was removed from the agenda of the Lithuanian Seimas’ spring session. The decision was supported by 73 members of parliament, 11 voted against it, and another 11 abstained.

“This is a violation of democratic principles in our country. Member of Parlament Vytautas Sinica, known for his nationalist views, submitted an amendment that excluded the draft law from the spring session’s agenda. This means that the issue will not be addressed at all for the next six months. Even worse, the Social Democrats and the ruling majority supported the motion,” emphasized AWPL-ZChR MP Rita Tamašunienė.

The draft included, among other provisions, a regulation allowing minorities to officially use their language (in public offices, on signs with place names) in administrative units where they make up 10 percent of the population.

“We will not give up the fight for the rights of national minorities in Lithuania,” declared AWPL-ZChR representatives. They plan to resubmit the amendments through initiatives of opposition parliamentary factions.