Lithuanian ruling coalition leader opposes lifting Paluckas’ legal immunity in tax case

The leader of Lithuania’s ruling “Nemuno Aušra” faction, Remigijus Žemaitaitis, will not support removing former prime minister Gintautas Paluckas’ legal immunity over an alleged tax violation, calling it a routine fiscal matter, LRT reports.

Speaking to the ELTA news agency on Wednesday, Žemaitaitis dismissed the push to strip Paluckas of his parliamentary immunity, arguing that tax authorities—not prosecutors—should first determine whether income was properly declared and taxes paid.

“This is a standard tax case,” he said. “The key question is whether taxes were paid on the received income and whether that income was sufficient to acquire certain real estate. It’s strange that the state isn’t using tax tools but jumping straight to criminal proceedings.”

The “Nemuno Aušra” faction holds 18 seats in the Seimas, but Žemaitaitis noted that at least six of its members—currently absent due to work trips or illness—will not participate in Thursday’s vote. “We haven’t discussed it yet; we might tomorrow,” he added, suggesting the faction remains divided.

Paluckas, a Social Democrat, faces scrutiny over undeclared income linked to property purchases. The Seimas is set to decide whether to lift his immunity, allowing prosecutors to proceed with a criminal investigation.