Lithuanian watchdog says MP Žemaitaitis breached ethics by leasing car to his party

Lithuania’s ethics watchdog has ruled that Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of the Nemunas Dawn party, violated public and private interest regulations by leasing his personal car to the party.

The Chief Official Ethics Commission found that Žemaitaitis took part in decisions related to the lease, failed to recuse himself and did not declare the agreement within the required timeframe.

The probe was launched after reports indicated that Žemaitaitis, acting as party chairman, signed a lease agreement with himself as a private individual.

The investigation examined his conduct as party leader rather than as a lawmaker, as parliamentary conduct falls under the authority of the Seimas Ethics and Procedures Commission.

According to the findings, Žemaitaitis agreed to lease the vehicle to the party for a total of 31,500 euros. Under the contract signed in January 2024, the party paid more than 3,100 euros per month. The agreement was set to run until November but became public only in January 2026.

Žemaitaitis has previously said the arrangement was necessary due to a lack of rental options on the market and defended the price by citing high operating costs. He also said the contracts were terminated after the party received a state grant of 483,700 euros last year.

The Liberal Movement, a party currently in the opposition, referred the matter to authorities. While the parliamentary ethics body did not open an inquiry, police have launched a pretrial investigation into suspected fraud.

Separately, the Central Electoral Commission has suspended state funding to Nemunas Dawn over financial violations, a decision the party is appealing in court.

‘Worthless’

Žemaitaitis has dismissed the ruling as “worthless”, questioning the fairness of the Chief Official Ethics Commission.

“If this were about [former conservative leader] Gabrielius Landsbergis, there would be no violation, but because it is about Žemaitaitis, it is a violation,” he commented on Tuesday.” There is no point in appealing or fighting. This is just another demonstration to the public that they are trying to cling on by any means necessary.”

He argued that other organisations, including public ones, are allowed to lease vehicles from their own members and that it makes no sense that political parties be forbidden to do it.