Lithuania’s ruling party requests delay in ruling on alleged car rental payment violations

The governing Nemuno aušra party has asked Lithuania’s Central Electoral Commission (VRK) to postpone for three weeks—until April 8—a decision on potential violations in its payments for rented vehicles, LRT reports.

Indrė Ramanavičienė, a VRK representative, confirmed the request was received Wednesday afternoon. The party argued that the case materials are extensive and require additional time for review and legal consultation. The commission will decide whether to grant the delay during its Thursday meeting.

VRK investigators have proposed ruling that Nemuno aušra committed a “gross violation” by renting cars from its leader, Remigijus Žemaitaitis, and party member Daiva Petkevičienė. If approved, both would be required to return the funds received for the rentals to the party’s account.

The draft decision states the party violated financial accounting rules and the Law on Political Organizations by transferring nearly €50,000 from state subsidies to Žemaitaitis and Petkevičienė for car rentals. A confirmed gross violation could temporarily strip the party of state funding.

In February, the civic initiative Viešpirkiai revealed that Žemaitaitis had signed a €31,500 car rental agreement with the party in January 2024, charging over €3,100 per month until November 13. A second contract with Petkevičienė, worth over €18,000 (€2,200 monthly), was also disclosed.

The Chief Official Ethics Commission has expanded its probe into a potential conflict of interest involving Žemaitaitis, while a pre-trial fraud investigation was launched in early March by Vilnius District Police. The Seimas Ethics Committee declined to investigate the party’s conduct in February.

Žemaitaitis has acknowledged the rentals, citing a lack of alternative providers and high operational costs. He noted the contracts were terminated after the party secured state funding upon entering parliament.