The upcoming referendum is a test of our citizenship

An event for seniors took place at the Government House, where participants had the opportunity to watch the film “Homeland” by Lithuanian director Tomas Vengris. This film evocatively, at the same time, ironically tells about the importance of choice, explores the problems of longing for the homeland, nostalgia, responsibility and citizenship.

“As we know, a referendum on the preservation of citizenship will be held on May 12, which will decide on the amendment of Article 12 of the Constitution. This is a very important test of citizenship, because the position expressed by all of us will depend on whether Lithuania will become the home that welcomes and welcomes all of its compatriots scattered around foreign countries. I would think that the film “Motherland” with its evocative and understandable visual language – better than hundreds of advertising posters – will draw your attention, dear seniors, to this topical topic, that is, the relationship between the state, the citizen and citizenship”, said Marius, Director of the Government Communication Department of the Government Chancellery Gursk.

The director of “Gimtinės” Tomas Vengris, who participated in the event remotely, said that while making the film, of course, he did not think that it could be relevant in making fundamentally political decisions. However, the director would be very happy if his work contributed even a fraction to the solution of an important issue for Lithuanians in the world – the preservation of citizenship. According to T. Vengris, it was fate that this problem became relevant for him personally.

Spinter in April according to research data, 77 percent respondents believe that it is important to maintain the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania after acquiring the citizenship of another state friendly to Lithuania.

The ballot of the upcoming referendum contains the wording of the proposed amendment of Article 12 of the Constitution: “Lithuanian citizenship is acquired by birth or on other grounds provided by the constitutional law. It can also be lost.”

Persons who mark “Yes” on the ballot will agree that Lithuanian citizens who acquired the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania at birth and accepted the citizenship of another state friendly to Lithuania could retain the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania. Persons who mark “No” on the ballot will express their disapproval of the aforementioned statement, that is, they will agree that Lithuanian citizenship acquired by birth should be lost when a person acquires the citizenship of another state.

Laimas Penek | LRV photos.

Press release