Lithuania's parliament is to vote on stripping former prime minister Gintautas Paluckas of his legal immunity after the Prosecutor General formally requested the move on Tuesday, amid a criminal investigation into alleged abuse of office and illicit enrichment.
Paluckas, who stepped down as Social Democratic party leader amid the investigation, agreed to a simplified procedure that bypasses the formation of a special commission – a process normally used to assess whether a prosecution is politically motivated.
Social Democratic leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius said the party would support the lifting of Paluckas' immunity "unconditionally," though he acknowledged that not all 52 members might be present for the vote.
"The Social Democrats will certainly not obstruct the legal process and will allow law enforcement to act," he said.
Under the Constitution, a member of the Seimas cannot be held criminally liable without the parliament’s consent. A decision to lift immunity requires at least 71 votes.
Speaking to reporters at parliament, Paluckas denied any wrongdoing and said he could prove the legal origin of all his assets.
“Of course […] through submitted income declarations, testimonies, and material provided during the pre-trial investigation. I believe this material should have been sufficient to prevent such suspicions from arising, but the prosecutor, of course, chooses to make the decisions they make,” he said.
Law enforcement suspects that Paluckas and his spouse may have acquired assets worth nearly €344,600 from unclear sources of income. His spouse has separately been charged with illicit enrichment.
Prosecutors have also seized part of the couple's assets in Vilnius. Paluckas has sold a 51% stake in a company Emus as part of the proceedings.
Paluckas emphasised that he intends to actively defend himself and has no plans to withdraw from politics.
"I am not afraid of publicity. I am certainly not going to run or hide. I have already stepped down once and will not do so again. I will actively defend myself," he said, adding that he intended to remain in the Seimas and the Social Democratic group.
Meanwhile, Sinkevičius disclosed that in private conversations Paluckas had indicated he no longer sees a future in politics though Paluckas has not made such a statement publicly.
Sinkevičius added that Paluckas links his situation to that of Saulius Skvernelis –another former prime minister who withdrew from active politics following his own legal difficulties.
The Social Democrats have suspended Paluckas' party membership, though Sinkevičius said he can continue working within the parliamentary group.
Sinkevičius acknowledged the affair was damaging the party but said final answers had to come from Paluckas himself.
President Gitanas Nausėda has called on Paluckas to resign from parliament altogether. Parliamentary leaders have so far stopped short of demanding his departure.
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