Presidency explained decision on amendments restricting migrant rights: Lithuania may be inundated with lawsuits



[ad_1]

The Presidency notes that if this is not done, Lithuania may be overwhelmed by lawsuits and fines.

Ask for it to be corrected as soon as possible

Povilas Mačiulis, the president’s senior adviser, said Wednesday that the president made the decision not to veto the law after consulting with experts and politicians in various fields.

“Vetoing such a law would run the risk that the Seimas, without convening a session, would create preconditions for the legal vacuum to last until the fall.” And this, among other problems, would create very bad signals for the countries where the migrants come from, ”said P.Mačiulis.

However, according to P.Mačiulis, the president urges the ruling authorities and the opposition to amend this law as soon as possible. The presidential adviser placed two emphases on what the law should amend.

“Such stringent requirements should not always apply. It should only apply in emergencies, emergencies or war.

Another very important thing is the opportunity for a person to go to court and have the right to appeal, “said P.Mačiulis.

“If these provisions are not changed, Lithuania may be inundated with lawsuits, fines and perhaps even penalties,” he added.

The president’s adviser noted that G. Nausėda received promises on Tuesday from Seimas President Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė and Seimas Defense and National Security Committee Chairman Laurynas Kasčiūnas that this law would be improved. as soon as possible.

“There is a real consensus on the need to improve the law,” emphasized P. Mačiulis.

Possible adjustments

For her part, Seimas president V.Čmilytė-Nielsen wrote on Facebook on Wednesday that Seimas is not obliged to adjust the law, but according to her, parliamentarians are willing to discuss and cooperate on possible corrections.

“I was hoping that the president would sign the law that modifies the Law on the legal status of foreigners. This is a clear and logical step. I would just like to clarify the information that has started to spread in public: the president did not force the Seimas to amend the law, because he could not do so as long as there is a clear division of powers and the existing functions of the Seimas in Lithuania.

Yesterday it was discussed with the president that corrections are possible. By the way, I said this as soon as the law passed. We are willing to negotiate and cooperate. Because only concentrated work based on an agreement, not on obligations, can really help Lithuania to solve crises, both of pandemics and of migration, ”wrote the president of Seimas.

The correct signal is important

G. Nausėda previously stated that the law passed by the Seimas as a matter of urgency is “perforated” in the sense of human rights, but at present there would be a greater danger of having a “perforated” policy regarding illegal migration.

“Currently, it is better to have such a law than not to have a regulation that provides measures to manage the emergency situation on the Lithuanian border with Belarus. This would send a completely unacceptable signal to the countries of origin of the migration,” he said previously. President.

Amendments to the law on the legal status of foreigners have shortened asylum procedures, as well as restricted some of the rights of illegal migrants following the declaration of an emergency situation in the country due to their influx.

Human rights NGOs have stated that the amendments will largely legitimize human rights violations.

[ad_2]