Laurynas Kasčiūnas, leader of the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) parliamentary group and initiator of the draft amendments, says the current system, under which conscripts are selected at random, does not ensure that all young people who meet the established criteria will serve.
„Although a new procedure came into force this year, under which young people aged between 18 and 22 are called up for compulsory initial military service immediately after leaving school, the annual compilation of the list of conscripts is still based on a random selection process, using a computer programme, in accordance with the established maximum number of soldiers. This means that not all young people who have finished school are immediately called up for service, and universal conscription is not enshrined in law,“ Kasčiūnas is quoted as saying in the report.
Under the model proposed by MPs, random selection would be abandoned, and the quota for conscripts in compulsory initial military service would match the number of conscripts called up in the relevant year. Only young men would be conscripted for compulsory service, whilst young women would be able to opt for voluntary service.
„One of the main reasons for these changes is to reopen the debate on the conscription system in its entirety. We have heard time and again that we are not prepared for universal conscription because we lack instructors and infrastructure to train conscripts. (...) We certainly have time until 2030 to prepare for these changes and to review the conscription system, which would eliminate the lottery principle and ensure social equality in this regard,“ emphasised Kasčiūnas, Deputy Chair of the Seimas Committee on National Security and Defence.
A public opinion poll carried out in August 2026 showed that 76 per cent of the population supports universal conscription by 2030. According to the survey data, 51 per cent of respondents’ support implementing universal conscription ‘as soon as possible’, while more than 25 per cent of the country’s population favour its implementation by 2030.
Furthermore, 40.1 per cent of those surveyed said all men should be conscripted, while nearly 19 per cent believed this obligation should apply to both men and women.
The draft bills were signed by 22 members of the TS-LKD parliamentary group in the Seimas.