The Lithuanian State Administration states that “the same person may be elected President of the Republic no more than twice in a row”.
“The key word is ‘in a row’,” LNK pointed out one of the creators of the Constitution Vytautas Sinkevičius.
He tells why it is written like this.
“One of the ways to prevent the concentration of power in your hands is the number of terms. The President is a very influential figure, a position with many powers, and the provision that it is possible to be elected for two consecutive terms prevents bad tendencies in the state, ”the former Constitutional Court judge commented.
Still, there are those who understand that you can only be president twice in your life.
“I read, and I understand that, that two terms, no more,” the Social Democrat told LNK. Algirdas Sysas.
He is considering the risks of the same person becoming president for the third or fourth time, even after the break.
“We could be like Russia or Belarus, or other countries where families, clans of various interests have occupied and ruled that country for many years and boringly,” he said.
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According to A. Sys, the Constitution does not mention re-election after a break. That after a break of two terms, it is only possible to run again.
“Someone may think that after a period of four or five years, they can run again. I would very much doubt that the Constitutional Court (CC) would probably explain it in the same way, ”the Social Democrat told LNK.
The former chairman of the CC agrees that the question is ambiguous Dainius Žalimas.
„Constitution is a living organism in general – it evolves by interpreting it. The interpretation of the Constitution after 30 years may be slightly different than when writing it and seeing global trends, that usually, if the number of terms for heads of state is limited, it is for a period of time – two terms, for example, ”D. Žalimas said.
There is now only one person to whom this provision of the Constitution is relevant – Dalia Grybauskaitė ruled the country for two consecutive terms.
A survey commissioned by Elta in December showed that the majority of Lithuanians in the next term – 17 percent. – would like to continue to see the same President Gitan Nausėda, 8.1 percent. – Saul’s Squirrel. 6.4 percent wants Dalia Grybauskaitė to return.
The president is the chief commander of the armed forces, appoints judges, commanders of power structures, and proposes or veto laws.
Dalia Grybauskaitė and Gitanas Nausėda
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According to D. Žalimas, it is accepted in Western democracies that the same person is the president for only two terms in life.
“It simply came to our notice then. “The Venice Commission, for example, of which I am a member, has repeatedly taken the view that this provision – specifically related to the presidency, is intended to reduce authoritarian tendencies or the risk of authoritarianism,” said Žalimas.
“I see no basis for a constitutional dispute here. Until now, everyone, at least who taught constitutional law, has explained to the students that two consecutive terms mean that they can run again, ”LNK commented on V. Sinkevičius.
D. Grybauskaitė herself has not commented on whether she would consider running in the presidential election again.
See the full LNK report here:
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