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Article 87: Early Presidential Elections

Chapter VIMedium

Constitution Text

“After, in cases provided for in the second paragraph of Article 58 of the Constitution, the President of the Republic calls an early election to the Seimas, the newly elected Seimas may, by a 3/5 majority vote of all the Members of the Seimas and within 30 days of the day of the first sitting, call an early election of the President of the Republic. The President of the Republic wishing to participate in the election shall be immediately registered as a candidate. The President of the Republic re-elected in such an election shall be deemed elected for the second term of office provided that more than three years of his first term of office have expired prior to the election. If less than three years of the first term of office have expired, the President of the Republic shall only be elected for the remainder of the first term of office, which shall not be considered the second term of office. If an early election of the President of the Republic is called during his second term of office, the incumbent President of the Republic may only be elected for the remainder of the second term of office.”

Summary

If the President calls an early Seimas election, the newly elected Seimas may, by a 3/5 majority of all its members within 30 days, call an early presidential election. The incumbent is registered as a candidate immediately, and whether re-election counts as a second term depends on whether more than three years of the first term have passed.

Key Points

  • •When the President calls an early Seimas election under the second paragraph of Article 58, the new Seimas may call an early presidential election.
  • •This requires a 3/5 majority of all Members of the Seimas within 30 days of the first sitting.
  • •A President wishing to run is immediately registered as a candidate.
  • •A re-elected President is deemed elected for a second term if more than three years of the first term had passed; if less, the President is elected only for the remainder of the first term.
  • •If an early election is called during the second term, the incumbent may be elected only for the remainder of the second term.

Practical Example

This rule balances the President's power to dissolve the Seimas: if the President calls early Seimas elections, the new Seimas can respond in kind and call an early presidential election.

Exam Tips

Memorise the numbers: 3/5 of the Members of the Seimas, 30 days from the first sitting, and three years as the threshold for counting a second term.

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