Parliament ethics panel opens inquiry into Sabatauskas

Lithuania’s Seimas Ethics and Procedures Commission has unanimously opened an inquiry into the actions and inaction of Julius Sabatauskas, chair of the parliament’s Law and Law Enforcement Committee, over its consideration of a proposed advisory referendum on the concept of family, LRT reported Wednesday.

Three MPs — Audronius Ažubalis, Vytautas Sinica and Ligita Girskienė — asked the commission to assess whether parliamentary procedures had been delayed and whether there were signs of a conflict between public and private interests.

In early April, the Seimas approved for further consideration an initiative by 63 MPs to hold an advisory referendum on the concept of family set out in Article 38 of the Constitution. The committee received expert opinions from three universities, but did not consider the question. A hearing scheduled for October 1 was cancelled.

The MPs said the procedures must be completed by December 7 so the Seimas can decide whether to call the referendum.