Lithuanian Parliamentary Speaker Calm Amid Opposition's Constitutional Court Appeal

Lithuanian parliamentary speaker Juozas Olekas stated on July 27 that he feels calm about the ongoing efforts by opposition parties to appeal to the Constitutional Court regarding the legitimacy of Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius's government. He suggested that a court clarification would establish a clear algorithm for future government formations.

"I think it's good that we will clarify and have a clear answer, as it has been done before, and how it should be done in the future. I believe that after the collection, after the clarification, we will have a clearer decision for the future," Olekas told ELTA. He anticipates that social democrat representatives might sign the appeal, noting it would be a good opportunity to discuss the matter further.

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I think it's good that we will clarify and have a clear answer, as it has been done before, and how it should be done in the future. I believe that after the collection, after the clarification, we will have a clearer decision for the future.

Olekas expressed his calmness, stating, "because it was done as it was done, and it seemed appropriate to everyone. This is not the first case where a program is registered first, then a decree. But if it needs to be done differently – we will do it differently, that's what the Constitutional Court is for, to clarify that."

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because it was done as it was done, and it seemed appropriate to everyone. This is not the first case where a program is registered first, then a decree. But if it needs to be done differently – we will do it differently, that's what the Constitutional Court is for, to clarify that.

However, Olekas himself has not yet decided whether to support the opposition's initiative. "I will look, I haven't seen the text yet. One needs to familiarize oneself with what one is signing, because sometimes in haste one signs where one shouldn't, and then signatures need to be withdrawn," he explained.

The opposition, specifically representatives from the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) and the Liberal Movement factions, began collecting signatures on Monday morning. They are requesting the Constitutional Court to rule that the Seimas's resolution on the Sinkevičius government's program violates several articles of the Constitution, as well as the principles of the rule of law and responsible governance. They also seek an assessment of Article 194 of the Seimas Statute for its compliance with the Constitution, citing a lack of legal regulation within it. A total of 29 signatures from members of the Seimas are required for the appeal to the Constitutional Court.

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I will look, I haven't seen the text yet. One needs to familiarize oneself with what one is signing, because sometimes in haste one signs where one shouldn't, and then signatures need to be withdrawn.