After 102 parliamentarians voted “for” and five abstained after submission, the amendment of the leader of the Freedom Party, Aušrinė Armonaitė, was approved, which abolishes the deadline for children of Lithuanian citizens, who acquired citizenship at birth, to apply for the preservation of citizenship upon reaching the age of majority. The amendments will be further considered by the committees of the Seimas.
The law provides that multiple citizenship can be maintained by children of Lithuanian citizens who acquired Lithuanian citizenship and citizenship of another state at birth from March 11, 1990 to July 22, 2008, if they themselves or their legal representatives request in writing to consider them Lithuanian citizens.
According to the law, such a request can be submitted within three years from the entry into force of this law, that is, the date mentioned, or until the child turns 18 years old. This sentence is proposed to be deleted from the law.
“I have received a number of requests from foreign Lithuanians to cancel this age restriction, because some people, due to ignorance, have already lost the opportunity to preserve Lithuanian citizenship, even though they would like to have it. Such a change in the law would be very important for our communities”, said Minister of Economy and Innovation A. Armonaitė.
Those who emigrated after the restoration of independence on March 11, 1990, currently, with some exceptions, cannot have dual citizenship.
On May 12, 2024, a referendum on the legalization of multiple citizenship will be held in Lithuania, which would remove the prohibition of dual citizenship from the Constitution.
In 2019, a referendum on the legalization of multiple citizenship was already held, but there were not enough votes to adopt such a provision. An amendment to the Constitution regarding citizenship is considered adopted if more than half of the citizens who have the right to vote and are registered in the voter list have approved it.
The Constitutional Court has clarified that only by amending the Constitution through a referendum can the possibility of having dual citizenship be opened to Lithuanian citizens who acquired the citizenship of other countries after the restoration of independence.
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#Seimas #amendments #people #multiple #citizenships
### Interview with Aušrinė Armonaitė, Leader of the Freedom Party
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Aušrinė. Your recent amendment to the citizenship law has sparked significant attention. Can you explain to our readers what motivated you to propose the abolition of the age deadline for children of Lithuanian citizens to retain their citizenship?
**Aušrinė Armonaitė:** Thank you for having me. The primary motivation behind this amendment was the numerous requests I’ve received from foreign Lithuanians who face challenges due to the previous age restriction. Many young individuals, unaware of these laws, have unintentionally lost their right to preserve their Lithuanian citizenship as they reached adulthood. This change is about ensuring that every child of Lithuanian citizens retains their connection to our nation.
**Editor:** It sounds like you’re advocating for a more inclusive approach. How do you envision this change benefiting those affected?
**Aušrinė Armonaitė:** Absolutely. By removing the age limit, we’re allowing individuals who may have missed the opportunity to apply up until their 18th birthday to do so at any point in their lives. This means that we can reconnect with a significant number of Lithuanians living abroad who wish to maintain their heritage, identity, and the rights that come with Lithuanian citizenship. It’s about preserving our culture and ensuring that every Lithuanian feels they belong.
**Editor:** The amendment passed with a strong majority. How do you anticipate this will influence the broader discussion around citizenship and national identity in Lithuania?
**Aušrinė Armonaitė:** It signifies a shift towards a more open and accommodating approach to citizenship. Such legislative steps can foster greater unity among Lithuanians, regardless of where they live. It also reflects our commitment to recognizing the diaspora as an essential part of our national identity. I believe it will encourage discussions about how we can further integrate our citizens abroad and strengthen our ties to them.
**Editor:** What are the next steps for this amendment now that it has received initial approval?
**Aušrinė Armonaitė:** The amendment will now be reviewed by the committees of the Seimas, where further discussions will take place. I anticipate that we will be able to continue our progress and work towards finalizing this critical change. It’s an essential step for our nation, and I’m hopeful we will see it fully enacted soon.
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Aušrinė. It’s a significant move for Lithuanian citizens and their descendants around the world.
**Aušrinė Armonaitė:** Thank you for having me—it’s a pleasure to discuss this important issue!