Liberal leader questions coalition’s future after raids on ruling party offices

Lithuania’s opposition Liberal Movement leader Eugenijus Gentvilas has questioned whether recent raids on the offices of the ruling Nemuno Aušra party will finally push the governing coalition to reconsider its stability, LRT.lt reports.

Financial Crime Investigation Service (FNTT) officers conducted searches on Thursday in the parliamentary offices of Nemuno Aušra chairman Remigijus Žemaitaitis and party member Daiva Petkevičienė. Gentvilas, a vocal critic of the coalition, suggested the raids—reportedly linked to party financing—could test Žemaitaitis’ longstanding claims of political invulnerability.

“I’ve said before that Žemaitaitis was the only untouchable in this coalition, a saintly figure—rarely do such people exist. Now we’ll see if he truly is saintly,” Gentvilas told reporters. He noted the irony that Žemaitaitis, typically quick to condemn others on social media, had remained silent on high-profile corruption cases involving allies, such as the Agriculture Ministry scandal.

While acknowledging that raids alone do not imply guilt, Gentvilas argued they undermine Žemaitaitis’ moral high ground. “He can no longer claim that everyone is corrupt except him,” he said, adding that the frequency of parliamentary raids this term reflects poorly on the institution as a whole. “How must voters perceive this? What must they think of these politicians?”

Asked whether the coalition might now collapse, Gentvilas expressed frustration with the Social Democrats’ indecision: “I don’t know what more it will take. Do they need to be beaten with a stick eight times over to admit something’s wrong? People can’t even make up their minds.” He declined to specify what changes, if any, the Liberals would demand.

The FNTT has not disclosed details of the investigation. Earlier reports confirmed officers were also present at Žemaitaitis’ private residence.