Lawmakers convened for an unscheduled session on Tuesday to consider three nominees to Lithuania’s Constitutional Court, including Vilnius University law dean Haroldas Šinkūnas, Supreme Court Civil Division chair Artūras Driukas and Social Democratic Party lawmaker Julius Sabatauskas.
The most heated debate centred on Sabatauskas, whose candidacy was proposed by his party colleague, Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas. “His appointment would only strengthen the Constitutional Court, as he has the most experience of anyone working here,” Olekas said.
Opposition lawmakers questioned Sabatauskas’ qualifications and warned that his nomination risks politicising the court.
“I don’t believe a member of parliament who spent 10 years here and received some legal training at a basic level can be nominated to the Constitutional Court,” said Laurynas Kasčiūnas, leader of the conservative Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD). “We must set higher standards.”
Sabatauskas defended himself, saying he has more practical experience with the court than many lawmakers. “Show me one member of this parliament who more often represented the Seimas or petitioners before the Constitutional Court,” he said.
Opposition Liberal Movement leader Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen also criticised the nomination. “It is flawed to nominate an active politician, and even worse to nominate a party colleague. Such proposals should not happen,” she said.
Supporters of Sabatauskas pointed out that in the previous term, Stasys Šedbaras, a member of the conservative parliamentary group, was appointed to the court.
His candidacy, however, was submitted by the Supreme Court. He also had more experience working as a judge. At the time, the Social Democrats opposed the move, arguing there should be a cooling-off period for politicians entering the court.
This time, Sabatauskas said: “I never criticised my colleague’s decision to join the court. I considered him a professional.” He acknowledged that his own party had opposed Šedbaras’ candidacy but said he had personally voted otherwise.
Conservative lawmaker Jurgis Razma announced plans to challenge Sabatauskas’ nomination in court, saying he is collecting signatures from opposition parties to petition for its annulment and to require the speaker to submit a new candidate.
The debate extended beyond Sabatauskas. Speaking to reporters before the Seimas sitting, Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of the Nemunas Dawn party, called for abolishing the Constitutional Court altogether.
“It should be replaced with a constitutional division in the Supreme Court,” he said. “The Constitutional Court no longer fulfils the functions it had in 1992 and has become politicised.”
Candidate Artūras Driukas dismissed such proposals as “marginal attempts to protest when the train has long since left the station”.
The Seimas must now decide whether to approve any of the three candidates: Šinkūnas, Driukas or Sabatauskas.
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