Global Integrity Report

Lithuania Home

Facts

Timeline

Notebook

Integrity Scorecard

2008 Assessment

Lithuania: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Lithuania : Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Voting & Citizen Participation
Indicators		Score
14	Is there a legal framework guaranteeing the right to vote?	100
15	Can all citizens exercise their right to vote?	83
16	Are citizens able to participate equally in the political process?	95

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Is there a legal framework guaranteeing the right to vote?

14a: In law, universal and equal adult suffrage is guaranteed to all citizens.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution (Articles 33, 34, 56, 78 and 121): [ LINK ]

14b: In law, there is a legal framework requiring that elections be held at regular intervals.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution (Articles 55, 78 and 121): [ LINK ]

Can all citizens exercise their right to vote?

15a: In practice, all adult citizens can vote.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Darius Kuolys, director, Civil Society Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 19, 2008)

Henrikas Mickevicius, Human Rights Monitoring Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 22, 2008)

Egle Kavoliunaite, head of Legal System Research Department, Law Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 1, 2008)

15b: In practice, ballots are secret or equivalently protected.

Score:

100

Comments: There have been incidents of the buying of votes, particularly in early voting. After the 2004 elections to the national Parliament, this practice was even acknowledged by the Constitutional Court: [ LINK ].

References: Henrikas Mickevicius, Human Rights Monitoring Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 22, 2008)

Egle Kavoliunaite, head of Legal System Research Department, Law Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 1, 2008)

Peer Review Comments: The number of reported and investigated cases of vote-buying, as well as of ballot-tampering, was exceedingly small in 2005, 2007 and 2008.

15c: In practice, elections are held according to a regular schedule.

Score:

100

Comments: Information from the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Lithuania: [ LINK ].

References: Darius Kuolys, director, Civil Society Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 19, 2008)

Henrikas Mickevicius, Human Rights Monitoring Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 22, 2008)

Egle Kavoliunaite, head of Legal System Research Department, Law Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 1, 2008)

Are citizens able to participate equally in the political process?

16a: In law, all citizens have a right to form political parties.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution (Article 35): [ LINK ]

Law on Political Parties (Article 3): [ LINK ]

16b: In law, all citizens have a right to run for political office.

Score:

YES

Comments: Individuals who have been impeached are banned from running for office, as are citizens who are recognized as incapable by the court.

References: Constitution (Articles 29, 33 and 34): [ LINK ]

16c: In practice, all citizens are able to form political parties.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: While there is no guarantee of electoral success, political parties can form freely without opposition. <p>50 Score Criteria: Some barriers to formation are present, such as burdensome registration requirements that may not be fairly applied. Some parties\' political viewpoints may draw pressure from the government, such as surveillance or intimidation. Some political parties or organizations may have extra barriers to getting on a ballot. <p>0 Score Criteria: Some political parties are effectively barred from forming through some manner of official or unofficial pressure. This may include threats, arrest, or violence from competing parties or other groups.$

Comments:

References: Darius Kuolys, director, Civil Society Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 19, 2008)

Henrikas Mickevicius, Human Rights Monitoring Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 22, 2008)

Egle Kavoliunaite, head of Legal System Research Department, Law Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 1, 2008)

16d: In practice, all citizens can run for political office.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Darius Kuolys, director, Civil Society Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 19, 2008)

Henrikas Mickevicius, Human Rights Monitoring Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 22, 2008)

Egle Kavoliunaite, head of Legal System Research Department, Law Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 1, 2008)

16e: In practice, an opposition party is represented in the legislature.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: The opposition party always has some influence on the proceedings of the legislature. The opposition party can introduce legislation or bring pending matters to a vote without the consent of the ruling party. <p>50 Score Criteria: The opposition party has influence on the proceeding of the legislature, but it is limited in scope. The opposition\'s ability to force votes or publicly debate certain topics may be limited. <p>0 Score Criteria: The opposition party has only token participation in the legislature\'s proceedings and cannot advance legislation or force a debate.$

Comments:

References: Darius Kuolys, director, Civil Society Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 19, 2008)

Henrikas Mickevicius, Human Rights Monitoring Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 22, 2008)

Egle Kavoliunaite, head of Legal System Research Department, Law Institute (Vilnius, Sept. 1, 2008)