Lithuanian election commission revokes Jeglinskas’ parliamentary mandate

The Central Electoral Commission of Lithuania (VRK) will revoke the parliamentary mandate of Giedrimas Jeglinskas, a member of the Democrats’ “For Lithuania” faction, with Vilija Targamadzė set to replace him in the Seimas, LRT reports.

Jeglinskas announced on Monday his withdrawal from parliament and active politics, citing personal reasons. He stated that his decision was unrelated to the ongoing legal scrutiny of former party leader Saulius Skvernelis, whom prosecutors seek to charge with bribery in a case involving the State Plant Service. Lawmakers are expected to vote on lifting Skvernelis’ immunity.

Targamadzė, who will assume Jeglinskas’ seat based on the party’s electoral list, previously served on the Seimas’ Education and Science Committee in the last term.

Jeglinskas, elected via the Democrats’ party list, will continue working as a defence expert, joining the US-based Atlantic Council think tank and the Warsaw Security Forum’s high-level working group. Though stepping back from politics, he will remain a member of the Democrats’ “For Lithuania” party.

During his 18 months in parliament, Jeglinskas chaired the National Security and Defence Committee for nearly a year before the coalition was reshuffled, excluding the Democrats. He described his tenure as “fascinating and insightful.”