Lithuanian lawmakers divided over formalising parliamentary holidays

Lithuania’s parliament, the Seimas, has no official holiday system for its members, and lawmakers disagree on whether one should be introduced, LRT reported.

After the Seimas’s spring session ends, public discussion traditionally focuses not on politicians’ work in the plenary chamber but on their rest, leisure activities and travel destinations. Although lawmakers working during the inter-session period have a constitutional right to rest, this is not regulated by law.

In 2004, the Constitutional Court ruled that lawmakers’ holidays and rest periods should be regulated by legislation. However, previous attempts to adopt a draft law on the rights, duties and guarantees of Seimas members’ activities have failed.

The current Seimas has not yet included the issue on its agenda, having focused on forming the governing coalition and changes to the government. Asked by the ELTA news agency whether lawmakers’ holidays should be formally regulated, politicians offered differing views. Some supported official holidays, while others said they must work continuously and remain available. Several also expressed doubts because formal holidays could create practical problems.

Leiputė says formal holidays would be fair

Orinta Leiputė, deputy speaker of the Seimas and leader of the ruling Lithuanian Social Democratic Party’s parliamentary group, said lawmakers’ holidays should be officially established so they could take a proper break from intensive work.

“It would not be accurate to say that Seimas members do not take holidays during the inter-session period. They do. This is combined with the fact that no plenary sessions are held, while committee and commission meetings take place remotely,” Leiputė told ELTA.

She said official holidays would allow lawmakers to rest without feeling guilty about being at a lake, by the seaside or travelling abroad.

Leiputė said all lawmakers would probably take their holidays at the same time during the inter-session period, as otherwise there might not be a quorum for a meeting. She suggested a fixed holiday period of two or three weeks, similar to that available to other workers.

She added that politicians with young children might want to travel with them, and said it would be fair and right to regulate holidays by law.

According to Leiputė, any new rules and related legal amendments could apply to members of the next Seimas. She said the issue had not been discussed during the current parliamentary term, partly because of previous unsuccessful attempts.

Conservatives would support the move

Laurynas Kasčiūnas, leader of the opposition Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats parliamentary group, said legal regulation would provide greater clarity.

“If the Seimas leadership took the political initiative to officially establish holidays for Seimas members, I believe the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats parliamentary group would support the move,” Kasčiūnas said.

He said regulation would help avoid unnecessary ambiguity and provide greater clarity for lawmakers, the public and public debate.

Kasčiūnas called on Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas to take the lead in resolving the long-standing issue.

Norkienė doubts legislation would work

Seimas Deputy Speaker Aušrinė Norkienė, a member of the Farmers and Greens Union, questioned whether lawmakers’ holidays could be officially established by law.