The minimum number of 71 lawmakers, necessary for the adoption of the bill, had registered to vote, and 60 MPs voted in favor, one was against and eight lawmakers abstained.
The amendment was backed by members of the ruling Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, the Social Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania, the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance, the political group "For Lithuania’s Welfare", and also several members of the non-attached political group.
The opposition conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, the liberals and the social democrats did not vote. Previous attempts by ruling parties to adopt the amendments failed due to a lack of a quorum ensured by the opposition.
During the final bill adoption stage, the Seimas of Lithuania gave its backing to the proposal by LFGU leader Ramunas Karbauskis and Naglis Puteikis, leader of the Center Party, to reduce the existing election thresholds to 3 percent for political parties and to 5 percent for party coalitions.
The initial bill version stipulated the lowering of the election threshold for political parties in the multi-member constituency to 4 percent and to 6 percent for coalitions. This version was also backed by the presidential office.
Now parties need to exceed the 5 percent threshold in the multi-member constituency to get into the country's parliament, and there's a 7-percent threshold for coalitions.
The amendment was initiated by liberal MP Simonas Gentvilas motivating his decision with the wish to harmonize the regulation for Seimas and local elections. Now in Lithuania, there are 4 and 6 percent thresholds for local elections.