Seimas debates impeachment for Remigijus Žemaitaitis

Lithuania’s parliament, the Seimas, is debating whether to launch impeachment proceedings against opposition leader Remigijus Žemaitaitis following a guilty verdict against him in the Court of Appeals, LRT reports.

The Court of Appeals ruled that Žemaitaitis was justly convicted in a criminal case for antisemitic statements. Some lawmakers argue impeachment should begin immediately, as the ruling takes effect upon announcement, even though it may still be appealed to the Supreme Court of Lithuania (LAT). Others believe the Seimas should wait for a final LAT decision to avoid irreversible harm to both the politician and the state if the higher court overturns the lower court’s ruling.

Žemaitaitis has stated he will not resign from the Seimas and called the court’s decision political, adding that he will appeal to the LAT.

Under Seimas statutes, parliament must initiate impeachment if it receives a copy of a conviction for an offence committed before or during the term of office. In such cases, no referral to the Constitutional Court is required. However, the Seimas has handled similar cases differently in the past.

In 2020, Petras Gražulis, convicted in the “Judex” case, avoided impeachment as the Seimas waited for the LAT’s decision. He was later expelled for violating his oath after voting on behalf of another MP. Meanwhile, Vytautas Gapšys, convicted in the “MG Baltic” case, faced an impeachment process without waiting for the LAT’s ruling, though the vote ultimately failed due to insufficient support.

Viktoras Fiodorovas, chair of the Seimas Ethics and Procedure Committee, stated that the parliament must now begin impeachment proceedings. “Upon receiving such a court decision, the Seimas leadership must inform the parliament and start the impeachment process. The statute clearly states that if a court recognises a criminal act, and the ruling is from the Court of Appeals, impeachment must be initiated,” he said.

In 2024, the Constitutional Court ruled that Žemaitaitis had violated his oath and the Constitution with antisemitic remarks, leading him to voluntarily resign his mandate at the time. Fiodorovas suggested Žemaitaitis might do the same again to avoid formal impeachment.

Agnė Širinskienė, senior member of the ruling Democrats “For Lithuania” faction, also supports immediate impeachment, aligning with legal experts who argue it can proceed right after the Court of Appeals’ decision.