Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of the Nemunas Dawn populist party in the coalition government, was on Tuesday denied clearance to access classified information.
The decree was signed by the Speaker of the Parliament, Saulius Skvernelis, head of the Democrats “For Lithuania!” party, which is also in the ruling coalition with Nemunas Dawn and the Social Democrats (LSDP).
Last week, the country’s intelligence agency, the State Security Department (VSD), recommended against granting the security clearance to Žemaitaitis, citing a 2023 ruling by the Constitutional Court.
In it, Žemaitaitis was found to have breached his oath of office through antisemitic remarks about Jews and the Holocaust. Though he resigned from parliament before an impeachment process could begin, he was re-elected last October.
A criminal case regarding his remarks is also ongoing at the Vilnius Regional Court, after parliament lifted his immunity late last year.
Under Lithuanian law, the Speaker of the Seimas grants or denies lawmakers access to classified information based on intelligence recommendations.
On Monday, the Social Democrat prime minister, Gintautas Paluckas, told LRT TV that the VSD report was a recommendation.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
