Homeland Union faction and Gentvilas call for election watchdog probe into Paluckas’ disclosure

The conservative Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) faction and MP Eugenijus Gentvilas have formally requested that Lithuania’s Central Electoral Commission (VRK) investigate whether Social Democrat Gintautas Paluckas committed a serious violation of electoral law by submitting false information in his 2024 parliamentary candidacy documents, LRT reports.

In their appeal, the lawmakers argue that Paluckas declared in his candidate questionnaire that he had no outstanding court-imposed penalties or criminal measures, stating his 2013 conviction for deliberate fraud had been fully resolved. However, records show he only completed the court-ordered financial restitution in 2025—after already taking office as an MP.

The Constitutional Court ruled on February 6, 2025, that a person may not stand for election if a final court judgment against them has not been fully executed. The TS-LKD faction and Gentvilas contend that Paluckas’ restitution payment, finalised on July 8, 2025, means he was legally ineligible to run in the August 2024 elections.

“These factual circumstances give rise to well-founded doubts that the Electoral Code was grossly violated, as the restriction on passive voting rights was breached and knowingly false information was provided during the election,” the appeal states. It argues that misrepresenting the completion date of a sentence is legally equivalent to concealing it, as both actions obstruct the VRK’s ability to identify candidacy restrictions and distort the democratic process.

The lawmakers cite Article 176(6) of the Electoral Code, which defines the distortion of information about a convicted person’s sentence as grounds for a serious violation. They have asked the VRK to verify the accuracy of Paluckas’ disclosures, formally recognise any breach, and—if confirmed—notify the Seimas to consider revoking his mandate.

The VRK confirmed receipt of the request on April 30. The appeal follows a late-March announcement by the Prosecutor General’s Office seeking to strip Paluckas of his legal immunity over an ongoing pre-trial investigation into alleged abuse of office and illicit enrichment. Prosecutors claim Paluckas and his wife may have unlawfully acquired assets worth nearly €345,000 between December 2010 and late 2024.

Paluckas, a former prime minister, has since suspended his membership in the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) and stated he would not oppose lifting his immunity via a simplified procedure. Last week, business daily Verslo žinios reported he had divested his shares in electronics manufacturer Emus as of April 21, leaving his business partner as the sole shareholder.