Minister Resigns Amid Protests, Corruption Probe
Minister Resigns Amid Protests, Corruption Probe
Paluckas, a rising figure in the centre-left Social Democratic Party, was appointed prime minister late last year after his party led a coalition victory in the October parliamentary elections.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas resigned on Thursday following mounting public protests and an ongoing investigation into his business dealings.
President Gitanas Nausėda announced the resignation during a press briefing in Vilnius, stating that Paluckas had submitted his resignation amid growing pressure from the public and opposition lawmakers.
AP reports that the spokesperson for the prime minister declined to comment.
Paluckas, a rising figure in the centre-left Social Democratic Party, was appointed prime minister late last year after his party led a coalition victory in the October parliamentary elections.
His resignation also signals the imminent collapse of his cabinet, raising concerns about potential political instability ahead of Russia’s joint military drills with neighbouring Belarus scheduled in the coming weeks.
Paluckas has come under intense scrutiny following a series of media investigations into his business and financial activities.
In July, multiple outlets published reports detailing alleged misconduct linked to both his current and past ventures, some dating back over ten years. These revelations prompted anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies in the Baltic country to launch formal investigations.
In a devastating blow to his reputation, the media also revealed that Paluckas never paid a significant part of a 16,500 euro fine ($19,039) in connection with a 2012 criminal case dubbed the “rat poison scandal.”
Paluckas was found guilty of misconduct in the bidding process for rat extermination services in Vilnius during his tenure as the city’s municipal administration director.
In 2012, the country’s highest court ruled that he had abused his position by unlawfully favoring a company that submitted the highest bid.
Although he was sentenced to two years in prison, the sentence was suspended for one year, and he ultimately did not serve any jail time.
The leader of the Social Democratic Party denied any misconduct related to his business dealings, dismissing the allegations as a “coordinated attack” orchestrated by political rivals.
He stepped down ahead of formal impeachment efforts by the opposition. Talks to form a new coalition government are expected to begin soon.
