Lithuanian president says corruption charges against Skvernelis show no one is above the law

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has stated that corruption allegations against lawmaker Saulius Skvernelis demonstrate that no one in the country is untouchable, LRT reports.

Speaking to LNK Žinios on Tuesday, Nausėda called the charges—brought by prosecutors against the former prime minister and Seimas speaker—a sign that “our prosecution service is working” and that Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė “sees no untouchable caste.”

“It truly takes courage and civic responsibility to bring charges against someone who has served as both Seimas speaker and prime minister,” the president said, acknowledging the personal impact on Skvernelis while stressing that “this is how a rule-of-law state functions.”

Nausėda also praised Grunskienė’s leadership, noting he had twice appointed her to the role. “I am glad I contributed to that,” he added.

Skvernelis, currently a Seimas member, has agreed to the lifting of his parliamentary immunity to face bribery allegations linked to a State Plant Service case. He has not resigned his seat, and Nausėda declined to advise him on the matter, calling Skvernelis “a mature person who will make his own decisions.”

“The rule of law means not only that accusations can be made easily but that the accused has every opportunity to defend themselves and prove their innocence,” the president said, emphasising that Skvernelis remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The charges come as Skvernelis’ Democratic Union “For Lithuania” party faces potential replacement in the ruling coalition by the Social Democrats’ “Nemunas Dawn” faction. Nausėda avoided commenting on coalition shifts, stating that parties must assess their own readiness for upcoming elections. He underscored the need for any government to maintain unified security and foreign policies, followed by economic and social priorities.

Last week, Nausėda criticised the current coalition—comprising Social Democrats, “Nemunas Dawn,” and the “Homeland Union”—as ineffective after its failure to support a Kapčiamiesčio polygon bill, despite the latter two factions joining only last autumn to replace the Democrats.