Lithuanian politician suggests Paluckas should resign but keep his parliamentary seat

The leader of Lithuania’s Farmers and Greens Union, Aurelijus Veryga, has stated that Gintautas Paluckas should step down from his political role but retain his seat in the Seimas, calling it the “most logical step” for both Paluckas and his Social Democratic Party.

In an interview with the LRT programme Dienos tema, Veryga said Paluckas’ resignation would likely improve the Social Democrats’ standing, which he described as “not very good” even without this case. “I don’t know their motives, but I’ve heard from several Social Democrats—not just current or former MPs—that they see this as a logical move that would actually help the party’s situation,” he added.

Veryga also recalled long-standing doubts about Paluckas’ eligibility to serve in parliament, citing past controversies over unpaid fines and legal penalties. “From the very beginning, we were sceptical about this politician,” he said, noting that his party had previously questioned Paluckas’ suitability even as a candidate for prime minister.

The politician did not speculate on why Social Democratic Party leadership has not yet called for Paluckas’ resignation.