Lithuanian president comments on politicians holding hundreds of thousands in cash

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has addressed reports that several politicians and their associates are holding over €2 million in cash, stating that both the safety and origin of such funds raise concerns, LRT.lt reports.

Speaking on Wednesday, Nausėda emphasised two key issues: the security risks of storing large sums in cash and the need to verify the funds’ source. “Holding large amounts in cash is unsafe,” he said, drawing on his experience in financial oversight. “If kept in cash, it should be stored in designated safes.”

On the question of origin, the president noted: “If the source of these funds is documented, justified, and declared, I see no problem. If someone prefers to hold money in cash without earning interest, that is their choice.” However, he stressed that unexplained cash sums—especially those disproportionate to declared income—require scrutiny, particularly when involving public officials.

The remarks follow a joint investigative report published Thursday by multiple newsrooms, revealing that a group of politicians and connected individuals hold over €2 million in cash. More than half of this amount is linked to five members of the political party Nemuno aušra (Nemunas Dawn), with each individual’s holdings exceeding €100,000.

Among those named are party leaders Remigijus Žemaitaitis and Robertas Puchovičius, social democrat R. Vyžintas, independent MP Artūras Zuokas, conservative advisor Ramūnas Kartenis, the family of parliamentarian Ignas Vėgėlė, and presidential advisor Donatas Augulis.