Lithuanian conservatives plan to challenge electoral commission ruling on Paluckas

Lithuania’s conservatives plan to go to court over a decision by the Central Electoral Commission, known as the VRK, that cleared Gintautas Paluckas of a serious election-rule violation.

The commission said Paluckas disclosed his conviction when he ran for parliament. It relied on a 2010 court decision that postponed enforcement of his sentence. The VRK also said compensation for damage did not form part of the sentence, and that unpaid compensation therefore did not mean the punishment remained incomplete.

On that basis, the commission concluded that Paluckas was eligible to stand for election. The conservatives reject that reasoning and call the decision wrong.

They argue that Paluckas stated on his questionnaire that his conviction had expired in 2013, while he did not compensate the damage until 2025. They cite a ruling by Lithuania’s Constitutional Court dated February 6, 2025, which they say establishes that a person cannot be elected until a court act has been fully implemented.