Amendments to the Electoral Code concerning candidate vetting were approved by the Seimas on Tuesday. The amendments passed with 93 votes in favor, while 6 members voted against and 2 abstained. Once these provisions take effect, the Supreme Election Commission (VRK) will be granted the authority to assess whether candidates’ election programs contain disinformation, misleading, or false information.
According to the stipulations of the new code, an election program must align with fundamental constitutional values, cannot undermine the national security interests of the Republic of Lithuania, and must not include content that misleads the public or contradicts verifiable facts. Separately, K. Budrys held discussions regarding security and bilateral relations with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, D.
Jastramskis. During the meeting, Budrys acknowledged the challenging nature of the current media environment, stating, “It is difficult for the media and it is getting harder – that is a fact.”
The legislative changes represent a significant update to the framework governing the election process. The VRK’s enhanced powers aim to bolster the integrity of future electoral cycles by preemptively identifying and addressing potential instances of disinformation within campaign materials.
These measures are designed to ensure that the public discourse remains grounded in factual information, thereby supporting a transparent and orderly election.
Topics: #election #seimas #disinformation
