The Constitutional Court has established a procedural requirement stipulating that any impeachment process can only be initiated following a final court decision. This finality must stem either from the LAT or the Court of Appeals, provided the ruling is not subject to an appeal by way of cassation. J.
Olekas noted that because Mr. R. Žemaitaitis reportedly intends to appeal the court’s current decision, any subsequent action regarding impeachment is likely to require a period of waiting.
The Speaker of the Seimas reinforced this procedural point by recalling the case of former Member of Parliament Petras Gražulis. He reminded attendees that Gražulis’s impeachment proceedings were only launched after the Supreme Court issued a final, unappealed decision confirming his guilt in a criminal case involving abuse of power. Furthermore, the Speaker pointed out a prior instance where Gražulis’s mandate was revoked by the Constitutional Court.
That action followed a finding that the parliamentarian had violated the Constitution through actions deemed a gross breach, specifically citing his vote for another Member of Parliament, Linas Jonynas. These precedents underscore that the initiation of impeachment proceedings hinges critically on the finality and unappealable nature of a ruling from a competent court.
Topics: #decision #court #olekas
