Lithuanian prime minister must decide his own future in parliament

Former prime minister Gintautas Paluckas should decide for himself whether to remain in parliament, current Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė told LRT, the national broadcaster, on Tuesday.

Ruginienė stated that Paluckas must personally decide whether to stay in the Seimas (Lithuanian parliament) or step down, adding that shifting between factions would not resolve underlying issues. “The negative background began last summer—what we see now are just the consequences,” she said.

The prime minister declined to pre-judge the ongoing legal investigation into Paluckas, noting that past cases have shown individuals successfully defending themselves in court. “We must wait for the final legal decision before making any assessment,” she said.

Her comments follow a request from Lithuania’s prosecutor general to the Seimas to waive Paluckas’ legal immunity, citing a pre-trial investigation under articles 228 (abuse of office) and 189 (illicit enrichment) of the criminal code. Authorities allege that Paluckas and his wife may have unlawfully acquired assets worth nearly €345,000 between December 2010 and late 2024, including cash deposits, vehicles, real estate, and securities.

Paluckas has stated he will not resign from parliament or leave the Social Democratic faction, though he previously suspended his membership in the party. Last summer, he stepped down as prime minister following journalistic investigations into his business ties and questionable transactions.

President Gitanas Nausėda had earlier suggested Paluckas should either resign his mandate or leave the Social Democratic faction, but stressed the decision must be his own.