40% of Lithuanians Support Revoking Driver's Licenses for Child Support Evaders, Survey Finds

A new poll reveals a divided public opinion in Lithuania regarding stricter penalties for parents who fail to pay child support. Forty percent of respondents favor revoking driver's licenses for such parents, a measure currently being considered by the Lithuanian parliament.

The survey, conducted by "Baltijos tyrimai" from May 21-31, 2026, with 1,011 participants aged 18 and over, also showed considerable support for taking away hunting licenses (28%) and gun permits (30%) from parents who evade their financial obligations.

However, a substantial 34% of Lithuanians oppose any of the proposed stricter measures. Men were more likely than women to reject these penalties, with 41% of men expressing disapproval compared to 29% of women. Notably, women more strongly supported the idea of revoking driver's licenses, with 47% in favor compared to 31% of men.

The Lithuanian parliament is currently debating legislative changes that could introduce these new administrative sanctions. The initiative, proposed by social democrat D. Razmislevičius, aims to compel parents to fulfill their child support duties. If passed, non-paying parents could face the loss of not only their driver's licenses but also other permits.

Official data from bailiffs indicates the scale of the problem, with approximately 45,500 enforcement cases for child support in Lithuania as of early December 2025. The total amount of unpaid child support exceeded 200 million euros.