The ban would apply to general, municipal, mayoral and European Parliament elections. Presidential candidate are already subject to a requirement to be able to run for parliament.
The proposed amendments state that persons who have been found guilty by court and convicted for crimes against the state service and public interests and for crime against the financial system cannot be elected to the above-mentioned positions over a period of ten years from their conviction.
The amendments were initiated by the ruling Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union and the opposition Social Democratic Labor Party‘s political groups in the Seimas.
Currently, candidates must declare their prior convictions but that doesn’t stop them from running.
A Vilnius court is currently hearing a political corruption case involving the MG Baltic group and several former and existing lawmakers.