Labor Party proposes constitutional amendment to curb MPs jumping parties

On Tuesday, the Central Electoral Commission registered the party's ten-member steering group that will aim to collect 300,000 signatures in four months in support of the proposed change to the country's main law.

The Labor Party proposes adding a new chapter to Article 63 of the Constitution, which envisages reasons for termination of powers of an MP. In the party's opinion, the article should stipulate that an MP loses his or her mandate in case "a member of the Seimas elected in a multi-mandate district terminates his membership or is expelled from the party that proposed him."

"It is unacceptable – people elect parliament members with one party, and then they keep changing party membership. (…) A person who changes his views should be automatically disengaged from his MP mandate," Kęstutis Daukšys of the Labor Party said.

Currently, the laws and the Constitution do not envisage any sanctions for politicians who change their party affiliations.

Daukšys emphasized the provision would not apply for non-affiliated candidates elected through party lists.

According to Lithuanian laws, at least 300,000 eligible voters can propose amendment to the Constitution. Signatures in support of the initiative are to be collected within four months.