At a press conference on Friday, initiators of the referendum said that introduction of the euro was a step against the will of Lithuanian people and that Lithuania was not ready to join the euro area.
Signatory of the Independence Act Romualdas Ozolas said that the Constitution provided that the most important issues of the state were decided by referendum and currency changeover was one of them.
"The reason for an excellent dealing of Baltic countries with the crisis was that they were able to use their national currencies (). While the preparation for the referendum is taking place, the government will have an opportunity to explain to the nation why all the hurry, and if the explanation is plausible, the nation will vote based on it, it means that there will be freedom of choice. The current euro changeover project is one more act of violence against the nation," said the signatory.
Economist Audrius Rudys said that though there was a condition included in the EU Access Treaty stipulating that the euro should be adopted, a specific term was not set.
"It is noted that the euro will be adopted when the state will be ready. The introduction of the euro is our commitment, yet the date is basically a free choice of the state," said Rudys.
