Lithuania’s Central Electoral Commission (VRK) on Thursday refused to register controversial ex-MP Petras Gražulis, the leader of the People and Justice Union (centrists, nationalists) and current member of the European Parliament, as a candidate for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
All 12 VRK members voted in favour of such a decision.
According to the commission, Gražulis does not comply with the requirement of the Electoral Code, stating that a person who has been impeached or has lost his mandate as a member of the Seimas may only be elected as a member of the Seimas when at least ten years have passed since the annulment of their mandate.
Gražulis was stripped of his mandate on December 18, 2023.
Grazulis had sought to lead his party’s list of candidates in the upcoming elections.
Gražulis argues that according to the constitution and the Electoral Code, standing for election is considered a right to participate in the political process and not a position that requires an oath as provided for in the Constitution.
“The constitution of Lithuania stipulates that a person who has been removed from office by impeachment can only take up a certain position after a period of at least ten years. However, this provision does not apply to the right to stand for election, but only to the holding of an office requiring an oath,” he said.
Last year, the Constitutional Court ruled that Gražulis violated the constitution and broke his oath by deliberately voting for another member of the Seimas. As a result, he lost his mandate through impeachment.
Gražulis is also on trial for expressing contempt for LGBTQ people, and he was previously found guilty in a corruption case for acting in the interests of Judex, a producer of frozen products.
Lithuania will elect its new parliament on October 13.
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