“When a threat arises to the constitutional system or social peace in the State, the Seimas may declare a state of emergency throughout the territory of the State or in any part thereof. The period of the state of emergency shall not exceed six months. In cases of urgency, between sessions of the Seimas, the President of the Republic shall have the right to adopt a decision on the state of emergency and convene an extraordinary session of the Seimas for the consideration of this issue. The Seimas shall approve or overrule the decision of the President of the Republic. The state of emergency shall be regulated by law.”
When a threat arises to the constitutional system or social peace, the Seimas may declare a state of emergency throughout the State or in part of it, for no longer than six months. Between sessions of the Seimas, in urgent cases, the President may take this decision and must convene an extraordinary session of the Seimas. The Seimas approves or overrules the President's decision.
Lithuania declared a state of emergency in the border zone during the migrant crisis and in 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine; each time the decision was taken or approved by the Seimas.
Memorise the number 6 months and the difference from martial law: a state of emergency responds to a threat to the constitutional system or social peace, martial law to an armed attack.
Practice with questions about this article