Lithuanian parliament to debate holding referendum alongside municipal elections

The Lithuanian parliament will consider a proposal to hold a consultative referendum on defining the concept of family in the constitution alongside the 2027 municipal elections, LRT reports.

A draft resolution, submitted by Vytautas Sinica of the Mixed Parliamentary Group and backed by 50 lawmakers, calls for a public vote on whether the constitution should explicitly state that “legal family relations arise only from the marriage of a man and a woman, motherhood, and fatherhood.” The proposal was opposed by 35 MPs, with six abstaining.

The Seimas Legal Affairs and State Governance committees will review the initiative before it returns to the full chamber on May 21. If approved, voters would be asked whether they support enshrining in the constitution that family legal ties stem solely from a union between a man and a woman.

Sinica argued that while the constitution defines marriage, it lacks a definition of family. “Legally, the state needs to have a definition of what a family is,” he stated. Deputy Speaker Aušrinė Norkienė urged lawmakers not to fear consulting the public on the matter.

Opponents, including liberal MP Simonas Gentvilas, called the proposal unconstitutional, warning it would narrow the definition of family to exclude non-marital households. “All families deserve state support and respect,” Gentvilas said.

The draft resolution emphasizes that family is the foundation of society and the state, citing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that children develop best within a family environment. It also highlights citizens’ right to directly decide on issues affecting national life and future generations.

Under current law, a consultative referendum requires participation from over half of eligible voters to be valid. If approved by a majority of participants, the Seimas must address the outcome within one month of the results being announced.

Lithuania’s Constitution currently states that family is the basis of society and the state, which protects family, motherhood, fatherhood, and childhood. Marriage is defined as a voluntary union between a man and a woman, with equal rights for spouses.