Constitutional change on nuclear weapons should require referendum, says ruling party leader

The question of amending Lithuania’s Constitution to allow nuclear weapons on its territory should be decided by a national referendum, Remigijus Žemaitaitis, chairman of the ruling Nemuno aušra party, told BNS on Tuesday—though he would personally vote against such a change.

“This is not just some constitutional law, not some law for convenience,” Žemaitaitis said. “It would mean that nuclear weapons are being stationed in Lithuania. In my view, this is not a matter for parliamentarians to decide—it is a decision for the entire nation.”

He argued that a referendum would be the only legitimate way forward, given that voter turnout in regular elections rarely exceeds 50–60%. “For something like this, you’d need to call a referendum so that at least 50% plus one of the population has their say.”

Žemaitaitis, whose party leads the governing coalition, said he would oppose nuclear deployment if a referendum were held. “History shows that countries which acquire nuclear weapons—or allow them on their soil—become the primary target of hostile states,” he said, citing recent tensions between Israel, the US, and Iran over nuclear proliferation.

His comments follow a proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron in March to create a European nuclear deterrence framework, under which partner nations could temporarily host France’s strategic air forces. Lithuania’s Constitution currently prohibits weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases on its territory; amending it requires two rounds of parliamentary approval by at least 94 of 141 lawmakers.

President Gitanas Nausėda, Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas, and National Security and Defence Committee Chairman Rimantas Sinkevičius have not ruled out discussing constitutional changes. Opposition politicians have also signalled openness to the debate.