Election watchdog refuses to register MEP Gražulis for Seimas elections

The Central Electoral Commission (VRK) will not register MEP Petras Gražulis, leader of the party the Nation and Justice Union (Centrists, Nationalists), as candidate in upcoming parliamentary elections. Members of the VRK adopted the decision by consensus.

The VRK noted at a sitting on Thursday that several months ago Gražulis was not allowed to run for president either.

In early August, the politician announced his intentions to be the leading candidate of the Nation and Justice Union in Lithuanian parliamentary elections.

However, already then the VRK stressed that the Constitution prevents MPs who are impeached and removed from office from standing as candidates in elections to the Seimas for ten years.

Gražulis vows to appeal against the decision in court and to go to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.

In December 2023, Lithuania’s Constitutional Court ruled that Gražulis grossly violated the Constitution and broke his oath by voting for another MP when he was not looking at his voting machine. He was impeached and removed from office on 18 December 2023. In June 2024, he was elected to the European Parliament.

Elections to the Parliament of Lithuania will be held on 13 October.