The BNS news agency lists the most interesting and important events planned in Lithuania for this year.
CHAMPIONSHIP. The year will start with a dive into the world of ice, music and dance as the 2024 European Figure Skating Championships to take place at Kaunas’ Zalgiris Arena on January 10-14. Lithuania will host an ice dancing competition of this level for the first tie in history.
THE SEASON OF LITHUANIA IN FRANCE. On March 12 in Paris, Lithuanian and French Presidents Gitanas Nauseda and Emmanuel Macronas will inaugurate one of the key cultural events for both countries. The Seasons of Lithuania in France will take place in various cities and regions of France from 12 September to 12 December as around 100 projects will be selected to introduce contemporary Lithuanian culture to the French public through various cultural and artistic forms, discussions and presentations.
SUMMIT. The presidents of thirteen European countries will meet in Vilnius on April 11 to discuss ways to strengthen transatlantic cooperation, build resilient infrastructure and develop stronger ties. The countries of the Three Seas Initiative will also discuss assistance to the associated countries – Ukraine and Moldova.
ELECTIONS. Lithuanian citizens will have to go to the polls at least three, and probably five, times, to elect politicians and parties. The election marathon will begin with the first round of voting in the presidential election on May 12. The runoff, if needed, is planned for May 26. Lithuanian members of the European Parliament will be elected on June 9. A new Seimas will be elected in October, with the first round of voting scheduled for October 13 and the runoff will take place October 27.
REFERENDUM. For the second time in five years, Lithuania will try to change the Constitution and introduce multiple citizenship as voters will be asked on May 12 whether they are in favor of removing from the Constitution the clause that no one can be a citizen of Lithuania and of another country at the same time, except in individual cases.
PRESIDENCY. For the second time, Lithuania will chair the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe from May 17 until November 13. One of Lithuania’s key priorities will be to support war-torn Ukraine and to strengthen the Council of Europe’s influence in Europe and the world as an organization that sets and upholds the standards of democracy, the rule of law and human rights.
SONG FESTIVAL. The COVID pandemic forced the traditional Lithuanian Song Festival to take a six-year break. However, the festival, marking the centenary anniversary, will take place in Vilnius and Kaunas this year, with over 35,000 participants.
SCIENCE ISLAND. On the occasion of the start of the academic year in September, Kaunas will open the doors to the world of science, technology, human and world knowledge on the Science Island. The complex took four years to build and the exposition to be put in place, and the whole project cost 35 million euros. The museum vows to show visitors the interaction between people, their environment and technology, and to show the stars up close in the most modern planetarium in Lithuania.
TERMS OF OFFICE. The terms of office of the heads of Lithuania’s key statutory institutions are due to expire this year as Chief of Defense General Valdemaras Rupsys’ term of office is set to expire in July, Police Commissioner General Renatas Pozela will serve until November and Rustamas Liubajevas, chief of the State Border Guard Service, will work until December.
LONG WEEKENDS. There will be five long weekends in Lithuania this year: February 16-18 February, March 9-11, March 31-April 1, June 22-24, and November 1-3.
Source: BNS
(Reproduction of BNS information in mass media and other websites without written consent of BNS is prohibited.)