Former prime minister seeks faster immunity vote and leaves parliamentary faction

Former prime minister and current leader of the Democratic Union “For Lithuania” Saulius Skvernelis will request a simplified procedure for lifting his parliamentary immunity and will withdraw from his party’s faction, he announced on Monday, LRT reports.

Skvernelis told reporters he would urge lawmakers to approve the waiver of his immunity without referring the matter to a committee, requiring only a vote in the full Seimas. “There’s no need for a committee—only for approval, as the Seimas rules provide no other option. I will ask them to vote in favour,” he said.

The move follows last week’s announcement by Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė that she would seek to strip Skvernelis of his immunity to bring bribery charges against him. He is accused of accepting at least €51,000 in cash bribes in exchange for political favours related to the State Plant Service’s operations.

Interim party leader Virginijus Sinkevičius had earlier called for Skvernelis to step down from the faction while the pre-trial investigation continues. Skvernelis confirmed he would comply: “I haven’t made a final decision yet, but I’ve heard the demand and suggestion, and I will do it. If that’s what my colleagues want, I’ll take that step tomorrow.”

Skvernelis suspended his party membership last week. Under Seimas rules, lifting a lawmaker’s immunity requires at least 71 votes in favour.