Lithuania cancels customs chief selection over procedural violations in commission formation

Lithuania’s finance ministry has cancelled the competition to select a new head of the Customs Department after an investigation revealed procedural violations in forming the selection commission, LRT reports.

Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitiekūnas confirmed on Wednesday that the process was halted following a complaint from one of the candidates. “After reviewing the arguments presented in the complaint, certain violations were identified, which is why the competition is being annulled and a new one will be announced,” he told journalists.

The ministry acknowledged that legal regulations require the selection commission to include either the direct supervisor of the position or their designated deputy. Vaitiekūnas also expressed concern over broader structural issues, noting that some state institutions lack permanent leadership. “This is a structural problem—certain leadership positions in state institutions are not particularly attractive,” he said.

The now-void competition had named Žaneta Rudaitienė, currently deputy director general of the Customs Department, as the winner in mid-February. Rudaitienė, a former police investigator with experience in criminal police and analytical roles, was set to undergo mandatory security clearance by the Special Investigation Service (STT) and the State Security Department (VSD) before formal appointment.

The selection process had already drawn attention after the former ministry chancellor, Mindaugas Šimkus—who chaired the contested commission—resigned in January. His replacement, Kęstutis Kvaraciejus, a former advisor to the finance minister, now oversees the new selection procedure.

The cancellation follows the dismissal of former Customs chief Darius Žvironas, who was removed from office after being detained for driving under the influence. The new head’s term will span five years.