"We are making a lot of effort on the legalization of dual citizenship. We gathered yesterday in my office and soon, tomorrow, we will sign an agreement that we have to seek dual citizenship and amend the Constitution for it to include a clear provision that dual citizenship is possible," Gedvilas said.
In his words, the Law on Citizenship should define who and under what conditions could be a citizen of Lithuania and a foreign country.
Meanwhile, Danguolė Navickienė, board chairwoman of the Lithuanian World Community, criticized the proposal to hold a referendum on the issue.
"The referendum path is too risky," she said, noting that the turnout in recent elections was not high, therefore, such a referendum might fail.
The Constitution of Lithuania says that "with the exception of individual cases provided for by the law, no one may be a citizen of both the Republic of Lithuania and another state at the same time." Such an article is part of Chapter 1 which can be amended by referendum only and more than half of all voters must vote in favor.
Under the existing Law on Citizenship, dual citizenship is allowed to those who fled Lithuania before it regained independence in 1990. Those who have dual citizenship from birth have to pick one of the two after turning 18.
The Seimas is already considering a proposal to hold a referendum on dual citizenship alongside presidential elections in 2014.
