Opposition conservatives in Lithuania's parliament have proposed requiring ride-hailing drivers to hold a Lithuanian language certificate before being granted a licence, saying the government's own transport legislation falls short on the issue.
Laurynas Kaščiūnas, chair of the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrat parliamentary group, said amendments to the Road Transport Code proposed by the Ministry of Transport contained no state language requirement, and that his party intended to fill the gap.
"We need to extend a helping hand to the government and the ruling majority," he told reporters on Tuesday. "We will present amendments that would essentially solve the problem, especially when we talk about the issuance of new licences to ride-hailing drivers."
Kaščiūnas said a state language proficiency certificate should be added to the existing list of prerequisites for obtaining a licence. He acknowledged that a requirement for foreigners working in the service sector to hold an A1-level Lithuanian qualification had already been introduced this year, but said enforcement remained difficult in practice.
MP Dalia Asanavičiūtė-Gruauskienė said the proposal was consistent with the constitution and the principle that Lithuanian is the country's state language.
