A proposal has been made in Lithuania to simplify the process of lifting parliamentary immunity
The Lithuanian Seimas is considering a legislative initiative that could simplify the procedure for lifting parliamentary immunity and expedite the prosecution of lawmakers.
In the first reading, the draft constitutional amendment, introduced by conservative Juris Razma, received the following vote:
50 deputies voted “in favor,” 11 voted “against,” and 32 abstained.
Under the proposal, the Seimas’ consent to hold a lawmaker criminally liable would not be required if the lawmaker himself or herself agrees in writing to the initiation of proceedings.
After review by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Law Enforcement, the document will be resubmitted to the plenary session during the fall session.
Jurgis Razma explained that the goal of the changes is to eliminate bureaucratic inconsistencies in the procedure for waiving immunity.
“In this way, we will avoid all sorts of complaints and statements ‘for’ and ‘against’ from the Seimas rostrum. Like all citizens, a member of the Seimas will give their consent, and law enforcement agencies will be able to do their job,” said Razma.
He also emphasized that the current system creates paradoxical situations.
“A paradoxical situation arises when a Seimas member himself requests that his immunity be lifted, but there are not enough votes in the Seimas to formally approve this,” he added.
Currently, under Article 62 of the Lithuanian Constitution, a member of the Seimas cannot be held criminally liable, arrested, or have their freedom restricted without the separate consent of Parliament.
The amendment must be finalized by the relevant committee, reconsidered at a plenary session, and only then adopted or rejected during the Seimas’ fall session.
This was reported by the publication Delfi.
Earlier, the European Parliament voted to lift the parliamentary immunity of the controversial Polish MEP Grzegorz Braun.
Estonian Prosecutor General Astrid Asi has submitted an official request to the Chancellor of Justice to strip Riigikogu member Kalle Gruntal of his parliamentary immunity.
