Social Democrats surprised by Paluckas allegations but will allow prosecution

The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) has expressed surprise over corruption allegations against former leader Gintautas Paluckas but will not block his potential prosecution, Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas said Saturday.

Speaking to reporters in Šakiai district, Olekas—himself a Social Democrat—called the prosecutor general’s request to lift Paluckas’ immunity “very surprising” but stressed the need to await the final investigation results. “There is courage to engage in political activity if such things have happened,” he said, while emphasizing the presumption of innocence.

Prosecutors accuse Paluckas and his wife of amassing assets worth nearly €344,578 from unexplained income between December 2010 and December 2024, including real estate, vehicles, and securities. The allegations follow journalistic investigations by Laisvės TV and the Siena investigative center, which revealed a company linked to Paluckas received €180,000 in unrepaid loans of unclear origin and raised questions about his €223,000 Vilnius apartment purchase.

Olekas declined to assess the reputational damage to the ruling LSDP but noted such cases were “unpleasant.” He predicted the party’s Seimas faction would support lifting Paluckas’ immunity, requiring at least 71 votes: “I think everyone should vote to allow law enforcement to do its job.”

Paluckas, a former prime minister and LSDP chairman, denies wrongdoing and has pledged to prove his innocence in court. He resigned as party leader last August amid the probes but remained an MP. Earlier this month, authorities reportedly filed charges against his wife in the same case.

Current LSDP leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius has indicated Paluckas may continue working in the party’s Seimas faction despite the allegations.