Lithuania’s electoral watchdog delays ruling on Nemuno Aušra party’s alleged car rental violations

The Central Electoral Commission of Lithuania (VRK) has postponed a decision on potential violations by the ruling Nemuno Aušra party in its payment of car rental fees to its own members, LRT reports.

During Thursday’s session, VRK chair Lina Petronienė confirmed the party had requested a delay, citing the need for additional time to review extensive documentation and seek legal consultation. While Nemuno Aušra proposed deferring the case until April 8, the commission opted to reschedule it for its next meeting.

Investigators from VRK have proposed finding that the party committed “gross violations” of financial accounting rules and political party laws by transferring nearly €50,000 in state subsidies to leader Remigijus Žemaitaitis and member Daiva Petkevičienė for car rentals. The draft ruling recommends that both individuals return the funds to the party’s account.

The probe found that Žemaitaitis, while renting a vehicle to the party, also used it for his parliamentary activities, with access granted to the law firm Adlex—where his wife is employed. Investigators concluded that Nemuno Aušra failed to justify expenses, provide pricing calculations, or use state funds appropriately, while submitting incorrect data in financial reports.

If confirmed, the violations could temporarily strip the party of state funding. The draft also proposes obliging Žemaitaitis to ensure all future financial operations are properly documented and reported. VRK plans to notify the Special Investigation Service (STT), Prosecutor General’s Office, and State Tax Inspectorate of the findings, while adjusting Žemaitaitis’s 2024 presidential campaign expenses to include €1,300 for car rental, classified as an in-kind donation.

The investigation followed a January report by civic initiative Viešpirkiai, which revealed that Žemaitaitis had leased a car to the party for €31,500 annually (over €3,100/month) under a contract signed in January 2024 but published only in January 2026. A separate agreement with Petkevičienė, worth over €18,000 (€2,200/month), was also identified.