Lithuanian Parliament Appoints Bernotaitė as Head of Corruption Prevention Commission

The Lithuanian parliament has appointed J. Bernotaitė as the new head of the Corruption Prevention Commission (VTEK). The secret ballot saw 70 members of parliament vote in favor, with 6 against and 9 abstentions.

Bernotaitė, who has been a member of VTEK since late May, previously served as the head of the Ministry of Justice's Corruption Prevention and Internal Investigations Department. She holds a law degree from Vilnius University.

The VTEK is composed of five members, with nominations coming from the President, the Speaker of the Seimas, the Prime Minister, the Lithuanian Lawyers' Association, and the National Council of Non-Governmental Organizations. Members serve a five-year term and can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.

As an independent oversight institution, VTEK's primary role is to facilitate the effective management of conflicts of interest and ensure transparency in legislative influence. The commission oversees adherence to the Law on the Coordination of Public and Private Interests, the Law on Lobbying Activities, and other relevant legislation.