Lithuanian MEPs will risk their seats when running for national parliament

Under the new rule, proposed by MP Rima Baškienė, of the Peasant and Green Union, if an MEP, a municipal council member or a mayor is elected into parliament, he or she will automatically lose the mandate he or she holds.

Previously, members of the European Parliament or municipal councils could run for parliament without risking their posts. If they were elected, they could choose whether to take up the MP seat or keep their old position.

That, the bill’s author says, amounts to deceiving voters who vote for a party list that often includes candidates with now intentions to take up parliament seats. These candidates are there only to lend their popularity to the list, Baškienė says.