Lithuanian party leader vows to fight election finance violation findings

The leader of Lithuania’s “Nemuno aušra” party, Remigijus Žemaitaitis, has vowed to challenge findings by the Central Electoral Commission (VRK) that his party committed serious violations of election campaign financing laws, public broadcaster LRT reports.

“This is an absurd investigation. No one in Lithuania is prohibited from donating their salary, income, dividends, or other earnings, as long as taxes are paid and declared to the State Tax Inspectorate,” Žemaitaitis told Žinių Radijas on Friday.

He added that a lengthy legal battle is likely. “I think a major litigation process will begin. We will be stuck in this for a while. We will prove our case, they will prove theirs. I understand the goal is to wipe ‘Nemuno aušra’ off the map.”

The VRK investigation found that “Nemuno aušra” may have financed its 2024 parliamentary election campaign through donations from legal entities and third parties, a gross violation of the Electoral Code. The party is also suspected of violating the law by accepting membership fees (€4,300) via intermediaries, some of which came from a legal entity.

Robertas Puchovičius, the party’s deputy chairman, allegedly acted as the main intermediary, transferring €24,200 for the parliamentary elections and €4,500 for Žemaitaitis’ presidential campaign. Puchovičius, the sole shareholder of companies “Tvari statyba” and “Lajota,” also transferred funds to relatives so they could pay party membership fees. This included €1,500 to his wife, Eva Puchovič, and €2,500 to his father, Edvardas Puchovičius, as his bank balance was insufficient.

The VRK has proposed recognising these violations and deferring a decision on requiring “Nemuno aušra” to return €28,500 in illegally obtained funds to the state budget until a separate ruling on state budget allocations to political parties is resolved. Žemaitaitis has also been ordered to return €9,500 in illegal presidential campaign financing within 20 working days.

In April, the VRK ruled that “Nemuno aušra” had misused state funds by leasing cars for Žemaitaitis and deputy chair Daiva Petkevičienė, using party allocations for unintended purposes, and submitting incorrect financial reports. The party could not justify €49,500 in expenses, which the VRK classified as serious violations. As a result, the party was denied a six-month subsidy of up to €240,000, a decision upheld by Lithuania’s Supreme Administrative Court. Žemaitaitis and Petkevičienė were also ordered to reimburse the party €26,776 and €15,349, respectively.

With “Nemuno aušra” no longer part of the new ruling coalition, Žemaitaitis described his party’s current status as “half in government, half in opposition.”