Lithuania’s conservative Homeland Union plans to ask the Constitutional Court to rule on the constitutionality of President Gitanas Nauseda’s decree approving an incomplete cabinet of ministers, BNS reports. Homeland Union MP Mindaugas Linge argued that the formation of an incomplete government annuls the deadlines for the appointment of ministers who have not been appointed, which…
Latvia’s Constitutional Court has upheld the constitutionality of the transition to school education in Latvian only, LETA reports. The transition follows legislative amendments passed in October 2022. The court found that weekly tuition in minority languages and cultural history sufficiently supports the preservation of minority identities. Earlier, the European Court of Human Rights supported the…
The constitutional and finance committees of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, have decided to amend the car tax bill, ERR reports. Earlier, President Alar Karis rejected the bill, arguing that it violated the principle of equal treatment. Constitutional committee chairman Hendrik Johannes Terras and finance committee chairwoman Annely Akkermann said that discussions with various ministries…
The budget and finance committee of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has approved a proposal to link state budget funding for the public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), to GDP growth as of 2026, BNS reports. Under the plan, LRT would continue to receive 1% of government income tax revenue and 1.3% of…
Estonia continues to collect telecommunication data from its citizens despite it being against EU law and the constitution, ERR reports. The European Court of Justice and Estonia’s Supreme Court have concluded that the data collection is illegal. The data include detailed records from telecommunications and internet service providers, which the EU court argues infringes on…
Latvian electronic cigarette manufacturer Pro Vape, which operates under the Salt brand, has challenged upcoming restrictions on flavoured electronic smoking devices before Latvia’s Constitutional Court, LETA reports. The amendments will ban the sale of flavoured electronic smoking device liquids and tobacco substitute products as of 2025. Pro Vape argues that the restrictions infringe on property…
Chief justices and judges of the constitutional courts of the three Baltic States held a meeting in Riga to strengthen cooperation and share best practices, BNS reported. The court representatives discussed topics like fair trial rights, state language protection, and recent case law, highlighting the importance of such collaboration for maintaining the rule of law.
Estonia’s opposition Fatherland (Isamaa) party and Estonian Centre Party (Keskerakond) have decided to end their filibustering in the parliament, the Riigikogu, for now, ERR reports. The two parties withdrew their numerous submitted amendments, saying that they were against obstructing parliamentary work. The opposition’s filibustering practically halted the Riigikogu’s spring and autumn sessions in 2023. In…
Lithuania’s Prosecutor General, Nida Grunskiene, has asked the parliament, the Seimas, to remove legal immunity from MP Remigijus Zemaitaitis, BNS reports. The move will allow Zemaitaitis to be prosecuted for inciting hatred against a group of people. The opposition MP posted antisemitic texts on social media, claiming that Jews deported and killed Lithuanians during WW2….