Lithuania, Vilnius – The leader of the liberal opposition party has resigned his parliamentary seat on corruption charges. This is a blow to the Liberal Movement of the Republic of Lithuania, 5 months ahead of the elections.
Eligijus Masiulis, leader of Lietuvos Respublikos Liberalų sąjūdis (Liberal Movement), lost his parliamentarian immunity due to allegations of corruption to the profit of one of the country’s biggest consortium. He would have received at least € 106,000 in bribes.
The Liberal Movement is one of the main opposition parties and ranked until then among the most popular parties. Ahead of October’s elections, Eligijus Masiulis was considered a potential prime minister candidate. Giving his resignation, Masiulis promised to “tell everything when the time comes.”
Since 2011, the sponsorship of political organizations by private companies has been banned in Lithuania.
