Some 21.5 percent of the polled approve the plans and 13.5 percent say that they have no opinion on the subject.
Some 80.6 percent of the polled believe that the construction of a new nuclear power plant would swell Lithuania’s debt. Approximately one-fifth admit that the nuclear facility may be safe and 62.9 percent think that it might be unsafe.
Some 70.6 percent of the respondents say they would prefer alternative energy and would like the government to invest in district biofuel boiler houses that would generate both electricity and heat instead of nuclear energy.
Market and opinion researcher Vilmorus polled 1,005 Lithuania’s residents on 3-15 May.
Parliament to ignore poll
The Parliament shall take responsible decisions in spite of any poll results, Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius has said commenting on the poll results.
“First of all, the Seimas shall take responsible decisions in spite of any polls,” he said in an interview to Žiniu Radijas on Thursday.
“As for me, I may say that we conducted polls in March, and we have very clear results that the shares of proponents and opponents of a nuclear power plant in Visaginas are almost equal – 44 and 45 percent,” Kubilius said.
The authorities had to help the public understand why the nuclear facility project was important, he said.
“I think that, first of all, it is for the parties to behave responsibly, to maintain dialogue with the public and, while behaving responsibly and considering the project responsibly, help the public understand why one or another project is important and why it shall be implemented. Any party approach or politicking with respect to such long-term future in this case would be irresponsible behavior,” Kubilius said.
