Social democrat Baranovas to run for parliament while already holding a seat

A social democrat MP Ruslanas Baranovas has announced he will run in the upcoming by-election for a vacant parliamentary seat in the Nalšia North constituency, despite already holding a seat in the Seimas until at least autumn 2028, LRT.lt reports.

Baranovas was elected in the 2024 general election via the party list system. The by-election follows the unexpected death of liberal MP Jevgenijus Šuklinas, who had represented the Nalšia North single-member constituency. The new vote is scheduled for November.

Baranovas sees no legal obstacle, as current laws do not explicitly prohibit a sitting MP from running in another constituency. However, critics, including legal experts and fellow politicians, have condemned the move as absurd and a potential abuse of his incumbent status.

Tomas Chochrinas, a legal expert from Mykolas Romeris University, argued that Baranovas would exploit his existing MP status to gain an unfair advantage over opponents who are not currently seated in parliament. He compared the situation to applying for a job at a company where one is already employed in the same position.

Baranovas defended his decision, stating that the focus should be on which candidate can best represent the interests of Nalšia North constituents. “The essence is not whether I have a mandate or not, but that the people of Nalšia North, Ignalina, and part of Zarasai will choose who can best represent their interests and help solve their problems. I hope to convince them during the campaign that I can be that person,” he said.

Former MP Andrius Vyšniauskas, who led the working group that drafted the Electoral Code, noted that the code does not address every possible scenario. He recalled a previous theoretical case where a sitting MP considered running in a vacant single-member constituency but was informally advised against it. Vyšniauskas suggested the issue may ultimately require clarification from the Constitutional Court, as the Electoral Code cannot impose additional restrictions beyond those in the Constitution.

The Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to stand in elections, provided they meet basic criteria such as age, residency, and legal capacity. However, questions remain about whether Baranovas could take a second oath of office if re-elected.