Lithuanian parliament considers requiring signatures on ethics complaints

Lithuanian parliamentarians are moving to change the rules governing how complaints are handled by the ethics watchdog for state politicians. A proposed amendment to the Code of Conduct for State Politicians, discussed and supported by a broad consensus in parliament, seeks to ensure that all complaints submitted to the Ethics and Procedures Commission are signed by a physical or legal entity.

Viktoras Fiodorovas, chairman of the Ethics and Procedures Commission, explained that the commission receives a large volume of anonymous complaints, some of which he suspects are generated with the help of artificial intelligence or even written by politicians themselves. "We also happen to receive anonymous complaints written by politicians," Fiodorovas told Elta news agency. "This complicates our commission's work and requires a lot of time."

The current code does not specify requirements for the format of complaints, allowing investigations to be initiated based on any submission from a physical or legal person. The proposed amendment would mandate that complaints, whether submitted in writing or via electronic communication, must be signed. For electronic submissions, this would mean using a qualified electronic signature or another method that ensures the sender's identity and the authenticity of the message.

Proponents of the change argue it will help filter out frivolous or vexatious complaints, allowing the commission to focus its resources on substantiated allegations. Critics, however, might argue that it could deter whistleblowers who fear retaliation, especially in a political environment where anonymity is sometimes seen as a necessary protection.