Half of Lithuanian MPs seek constitutional review to halt “fuel voucher” cases against politicians

More than 50 Lithuanian lawmakers have petitioned the Constitutional Court to examine whether local governance laws regulating council members’ expense reimbursements comply with the constitution, a move that could suspend ongoing “fuel voucher” corruption cases, LRT reports.

If the court accepts the request, trials in the high-profile cases—where politicians allegedly falsified expense claims for fuel and other costs—would pause until a ruling is issued. The appeal was filed on April 9 by 51 MPs, including Social Democrat Rimantas Sinkevičius, father of Jonava Mayor Mindaugas Sinkevičius (acquitted in a separate voucher case), and Culture Minister Vaida Aleknavičienė.

Among the signatories are prominent Social Democrats—former Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas, Deputy Speaker Orinta Leiputė, and MP Karolis Podolskis, whose own fuel vouchers were submitted by Marijampolė Mayor Povilas Isoda for reimbursement. Podolskis, questioned as a witness in Isoda’s case, was previously director of Marijampolė’s municipal administration.

The petition argues that expense rules for council members should be set by law, not lower-level regulations, creating legal uncertainty. “Essential elements—such as a fixed list of reimbursable expenses—must be defined by statute, not municipal bylaws,” the MPs wrote. They claim inconsistent local regulations have led to allegations of document forgery, with politicians accused of falsifying claims for transport, phone, and internet costs.

Other signatories include opposition “Homeland Union” MPs: Deputy Speaker Aušrinė Norkienė, Justice Minister Rita Tamašunienė, and committee chairs Artūras Skardžius and Lina Šukytė-Korsakė. The group also includes Ramūnas Vyžintas, a Social Democrat MP who in March settled a civil “voucher” case by agreeing to repay €3,600 to Panevėžys district for unjustified fuel expenses claimed during his 2019–2023 tenure as a councilor.

The Constitutional Court has not yet indicated whether it will accept the case for review. A decision by the Court of Appeal in Mayor Isoda’s trial, originally expected in July, could now be delayed if the constitutional challenge proceeds.