In her words, citizens should have a say on the state's key issues as asking people's opinion is very usual in many democratic states.
"I always say that people should have a say on fundamental issues, and not only regarding the nuclear power plant but on many issues. (…) In many democratic states it's an absolutely usual thing to ask people's opinion," Baltraitienė said in an interview for the Žiniu Radijas (News Radio) on Wednesday.
A group of initiators are collecting signatures for an advisory referendum on the construction of the nuclear power plant. They have to collect at least 300,000 signatures in three months until 27 June. The initiators include the Lithuanian Green Policy Institute, Lithuanian Greens Movement and representatives of movement zali.lt.
Lithuania's government and President Dalia Grybauskaitė have said the new nuclear power plant will increase the country's energy security and will be economically beneficial.
Meanwhile environmental organizations are against the construction saying that the new nuclear power plant will not ensure energy security and prevent development of alternatives. Besides, the project's economic calculations are not clear.
Lithuania , Latvia, Estonia and Poland hope to build a nuclear power plant in Visaginas by 2020.
