Lithuania’s People and Justice Union has named Petras Gražulis, a controversial former MP, as its candidate in May’s presidential election.
The People and Justice Union’s congress on Saturday unanimously re-elected Gražulis as its chairman and decided to nominate him for president, the party said in a press release.
However, on December 18, Gražulis was impeached for breaking his oath of office, as he was caught casting a vote for another MP. According to the Lithuanian constitution, an impeached politician is barred from running for parliament or the presidency for 10 years.
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A criminal case in which Gražulis is charged with expressing contempt for members of the LGBTIQ community has also been sent to court for trial.
Among other things, the People and Justice Union congress also approved the party’s program for the 2024 European Parliament elections and a preliminary list of candidates.
Lithuania’s presidential election is scheduled for May 12.
The list of candidates so far includes incumbent Gitanas Nausėda, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, who is running on the ruling conservative Homeland Unions’ ticket, former Health Minister Aurelijus Veryga, nominated by the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, as well as Giedrimas Jeglinskas, a former NATO assistant secretary general, nominated by the Democratic Union “For Lithuania”.
The Freedom Party has nominated Dainius Žalimas, a former president of the Constitutional Court, and the Labour Party has named its chairman, MP Andrius Mazuronis, as its candidate.
The independent candidates include lawyer Ignas Vėgėlė, former defence chief Valdas Tutkus, doctor Eduardas Vaitkus, and politician Zenonas Andrulėnas.
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