Almost all leaders of Lithuanian Seimas factions agree to amend the Constitution regarding nuclear weapons
The President of Lithuania stated that almost all heads of Seimas factions agree that the provision of the Constitution prohibiting the deployment of nuclear weapons on Lithuanian territory is outdated and should be abolished, reports LRT.
Photo: Mindaugas Kulbis / AP
On Thursday morning, the country's top officials discussed the constitutional norm prohibiting the deployment of nuclear weapons in Lithuania at the presidency. The meeting was attended by the President, the leadership of the Seimas and the government, as well as the chairmen of parliamentary factions.
The meeting took place amid intensified discussions in the country regarding constitutional amendments. The reason was Nausėda's May decision to veto the law on the Klaipėda State Seaport, which provided for the possibility of vessels with nuclear weapons entering Lithuanian territorial waters if it did not contradict national security interests. The President justified his decision by the law's non-compliance with the Constitution.
The country's basic law stipulates that weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases cannot be deployed on the territory of Lithuania.
After meeting with politicians on Thursday, Gitanas Nausėda stated that the Constitution needs to be amended because the geopolitical situation continues to deteriorate. He also noted that the Constitution was adopted under completely different geopolitical conditions.
"This is an absolute prohibition that allows for no exceptions. Thus, Lithuania is essentially the only NATO state that has independently established such a prohibition for itself. Of course, we must pay attention to this factor," Nausėda said.
He also noted that Finland, where a similar prohibition was enshrined in law, has already lifted the restriction on the deployment of nuclear weapons.
"Today, Lithuania has found itself in a peculiar grey zone within NATO itself. <…> It would be very sad if we became a weak link or a grey zone within NATO itself," the President stated.
According to Nausėda, the positions of the heads of parliamentary factions generally coincided, and almost all of them expressed the opinion that this article of the Constitution is outdated and should simply be excluded.
According to the President of Lithuania, such a decision could be made by the Seimas deputies by voting for constitutional amendments, as holding a referendum would take too long.
"We have come to the conclusion that now is precisely the moment when both the Seimas and its speaker can demonstrate the necessary leadership," said Gitanas Nausėda.
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