Lithuania’s parliament on Tuesday rejected an opposition-backed proposal to begin impeachment proceedings against former Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas, a Social Democrat accused of engaging in business activities while serving as a member of the Seimas.
Lawmakers voted 41 in favour, 68 against, and seven abstained, defeating a motion to form a special commission to determine whether grounds existed to launch the impeachment process. With the vote, the initiative was dropped.
Members of the ruling Social Democratic Party, along with lawmakers from the Farmers and Greens Union, the Christian Families Union, and Nemunas Dawn, voted against forming the commission, joined by two independents.
The Farmers and Greens Union had initially proposed Paluckas’ impeachment earlier this summer. However, after joining the governing coalition with the Social Democrats in late August, the party withdrew its support.
“We actively read and analysed the text of the impeachment proposal, and our opinion now is that this is more of a political effort to punish a former prime minister,” said Ligita Girskienė, head of the Farmers and Greens Union’s parliamentary group, ahead of the vote. “We see no reason to start impeachment now. There are ongoing pretrial investigations, and we prefer to wait for the findings of the special services.”
Conservatives, liberals, and Democrats “For Lithuania” backed the impeachment motion.
“Although Gintautas Paluckas resigned as prime minister, his constitutional responsibility as a member of parliament has not disappeared,” said Mindaugas Lingė, a conservative lawmaker who introduced the initiative.
Lingė argued that regardless of any potential criminal proceedings, Paluckas may have violated the Constitution and his oath of office by engaging in private business while in public office.
“The issue is not about owning shares, but about systematically using one’s position for personal gain, which is incompatible with the oath and the Constitution,” Lingė said.
The impeachment proposal alleged that Paluckas, while serving as both prime minister and a member of the Seimas, managed or influenced the affairs of two companies, Garnis and Emus, potentially acting in their interests.
Paluckas stepped down as prime minister and leader of the Social Democratic Party in August after prosecutors launched two pretrial investigations into his business activities and his past connections. He remains a member of parliament.
Under Lithuanian law, an impeachment process can be initiated if at least 36 lawmakers sign the proposal. The motion to form a commission had been supported by members of the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats, the Liberal Movement, and independent lawmaker Agnė Širinskienė.
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