Lithuanian Mayor Convicted of Fraud, Faces Removal from Office

The mayor of Marijampolė, Lithuania, faces removal from office after the Lithuanian Court of Appeal found him guilty in a criminal case involving "receipt fraud." The Central Electoral Commission (VRK) made the decision to disqualify him following the court's ruling.

According to the Election Code, a mayor's powers are revoked upon a final conviction. As the next municipal council and mayoral elections are scheduled in less than a year, new elections will not be held in Marijampolė. Instead, the municipal council will appoint an acting mayor to serve until the spring elections.

Irena Lunskienė, the head of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party's faction in the Marijampolė Municipal Council, stated that the selection of an interim mayor is still uncertain. The mayor, a member of the Social Democrats, was found guilty last Thursday of abuse of power, fraud, and document forgery. He was fined 10,000 euros, payable within two months, and barred from public service for three years.

The mayor maintains his innocence and intends to appeal the court's decision to a higher court. The court determined that his actions caused significant material and non-material damage, undermined public trust in local government institutions, and were systematic. Court documents indicate he defrauded the municipality of 2,479 euros by submitting falsified expense reports.