Ethics commission declines probe into Ilma Paluckė’s hiring

Lithuania’s Chief Official Ethics Commission will not investigate the hiring of former prime minister Gintautas Paluckas’s wife, Ilma Paluckė, at the Vilnius District Polyclinic, a healthcare facility, LRT reported. The commission made the decision on Wednesday after reviewing additional information about the hiring.

The facility is headed by Evaldas Navickas, who previously advised Paluckas on health matters.

The Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats faction in the Seimas had asked the commission to investigate whether Navickas breached the Law on the Adjustment of Public and Private Interests by making or taking part in the hiring decision. The faction also asked whether Vilnius District Mayor Robert Duchnevičius, a Social Democrat, had been informed about the planned appointment.

News website Delfi reported in September that Paluckė had been hired as an internal communications coordinator. Duchnevičius previously told ELTA that he had discussed the circumstances of the appointment with Navickas, who said Paluckė was hired based on her competencies.

The polyclinic said Paluckė was selected after an assessment of candidates’ competencies and professional experience. Gintautas Paluckas has also said his wife was hired based on her qualifications.