In Vilnius, the Seimas has rejected the idea of decriminalising the acquisition and possession of drugs in small quantities. Passing this was a goal part of the coalition agreement of the Lithuanian government, LRT broadcaster reports.
Draft amendments to laws, initiated by the liberal Freedom Party of the ruling coalition, would have introduced fines, instead of criminal liability, for the possession of small amounts of drugs. In the vote on Thursday, November 11, sixty-one members of the 141-seat Lithuanian parliament voted in favour of the respective amendments, 58 voted against, and seven abstained.
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The decriminalisation of the possession of small quantities of drugs was one of the Freedom Party’s priorities in the coalition agreement. Its rejection could raise questions about the party’s future in the governing majority, according to its representatives.
«The Freedom Party will certainly evaluate this vote, but we are managing the pandemic, and there are other things that are very important,» said the leader of the Freedom Party and the Lithuanian Economy and Innovation Minister, Aušrinė Armonaitė.
The article originally appeared on LRT English: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1540444/lithuania-voted-against-decriminalising-drugs-what-s-next
Seimas rejects decriminalisation of drugs in small amounts
