CC's ruling cuts chances of citizenship referendum success, Lithuanian parliament speaker says

VILNIUS – The Lithuanian Constitutional Court's ruling earlier on Friday that a referendum cannot be held on two separate days reduced the chances of adopting the necessary constitutional amendment to expand dual citizenship in the country, Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas Viktoras Pranckietis says.

"I believe it reduces the chances of that referendum taking place as the requirements are very high," he told BNS Lithuania today.

In his words, the only way now is to step up calls for people to come and vote and to explain why it is important.

"We are now in a situation were we no longer can do anything as we have used our all resources," the parliamentary speaker said.

For the dual citizenship referendum to take place, more than half of eligible voters, or around 1.3 million people, need to vote in favor.

Pranckietis believes the dual citizenship referendum should take place on May 12 alongside the first round of voting in the presidential election.

The Seimas will need to adopt a new resolution on holding the referendum.