Lithuanian president on rising immigration: 'time to rein in the horses'

VILNIUS – President Gitanas Nauseda believes that the number of immigrants in Lithuania has reached a point where it is "time to rein in the horses".

"From my viewpoint, uncontrolled immigration is first and foremost a national security issue. So, (...) failure to control immigration given the demographic hole we are in now could lead to outcomes none of us want," Nauseda told the public broadcaster LRT's program Forumas on Monday evening.

"While I understand in principle that employers need labor, increased productivity and business expansion, I would support a strict quota system," he added.

Nauseda noted that after Belarus' fraudulent presidential election in 2020 and the ensuing persecution of opponents, the number of immigrants in Lithuania has surged and "has reached a critically high level relative to our total population".

"Therefore, it is really time for us to rein in the horses, because (...) immigration is a pressing issue, and, as you can see from Germany's example, it can even affect election results," he said.  

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which advocates a deportation program for irregular immigrants, won its first regional elections on Sunday. 

Nauseda expects a new law setting a quota for third-country nationals coming to Lithuania to help tighten the country's immigration policy. The parliament passed the law in June.

"The adopted decisions – admittedly, they will come into force in 2026 and perhaps it makes sense to consider bringing the date forward – set a 1.4 percent quota, which would effectively mean about 40,000 working immigrants, even though the current number of immigrants who have jobs is around 120,000," the president said. 

"I would consider this a certain tightening of immigration policy that is in line with the mentioned national security narrative I previously mentioned, but we have to apply it consistently and make no exceptions," he added.

The amendments to the law regulating the status of foreign nationals in Lithuania also stipulate that only individuals with a temporary residence permit can work legally in the country. 

The new legislation also imposes an obligation on employers to provide information on foreign employees' qualifications and work experience.