Parliament speaker nominates prime minister’s legal advisor for Seimas controller role

Parliament speaker Juozas Olekas has nominated Aleksandras Radčenko, legal advisor to Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė, as a candidate for Seimas controller, public broadcaster LRT reported on Wednesday.

Olekas formally registered the nomination on Thursday. Radčenko currently serves as Ruginienė’s legal advisor, a position he also held under former Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas. A lawyer by profession, Radčenko previously worked in the advisory team of former Seimas Speaker Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen and as an advisor to President Gitanas Nausėda.

The move follows two failed nominations for the controller post. In December, lawmakers rejected Nerija Stasiulienė, a Vilniaus city council member and lawyer, after opposition factions criticised the selection process. Critics argued that Olekas’ earlier nominee, Rasmina Čepkauskienė, had not been properly vetted for legal compliance, while Stasiulienė’s qualifications were deemed insufficient. Neither candidate secured the required support in a secret ballot.

If appointed, Radčenko would become the third Seimas controller, tasked with investigating violations related to small and medium-sized businesses and addressing bureaucratic obstacles. The role complements existing controllers Erika Leonaitė, who oversees state institution misconduct, and Jolita Miliuvienė, who handles municipal corruption and red tape complaints.