Ratification without debate?

The process of ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon is still underway in Lithuania. Jonas Vaiscunas comments: "Our government obviously considers its citizens to be too immature regarding international affairs. So far it has avoided any kind of public discussion about the Lisbon Treaty. Neither the elected politicians nor political scientists have made any effort to explain it to the people. ... And this although in surveys 73 percent of respondents claimed they didn't know anything about the new treaty and 27 percent had heard about it but 51 percent of them felt they weren't adequately informed. ... Who says we have to ratify this treaty at all? Isn't it time we asked how this situation fits in with Article 1 of our constitution, which calls for a referendum in such cases?"

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