Criticism of the referendum in Lithuania

Concurrently with Sunday's parliamentary elections, Lithuanians were able to cast their ballots in a referendum on the controversial nuclear power plant Ignalina. However the necessary level of participation was not achieved. The news portal Balsas criticises the small voter turnout: "It is not a good sign that the majority of voters did not make use of the opportunity to demonstrate their will. But the main responsibility lies with the Lithuanian politicians who initiated this referendum in an awkward gesture of helplessness. They all know that the Ignalina nuclear power plant must be closed down at the end of 2009, because that was a requirement for Lithuania's joining the EU. The referendum would have provided the opportunity to ask what ideas politicians have for energy supplies to the country, and why no energy bridges have yet been built."

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