Lithuania’s Constitutional Court to conclude on compliance of MP Pūkas’ actions

“The phase of judicial disputes is complete, the court heard Pūkas and his lawyers, as well as the claimant’s lawyer, and the court has a month to draw a conclusion or any other ruling. (…) The one-month time period is set by the law, however, if the court manages to agree on the text and accept it faster, things can evolve faster,” Constitutional Court President Dainius Žalimas told journalists after the Monday’s hearing.

He refused to comment on the case, saying the meeting had been held behind closed doors.

Upon arrival at the hearing, Pūkas restated the sexual harassment charges had been fabricated but did not state any defence arguments. After leaving the courtroom, he said his final speech stated that he had not violated the Constitution or the oath. He refrained from further comments.

During the first hearing last Thursday, the court heard witnesses. Pūkas was not present due to illness.

On Monday, the MP said he was feeling unwell but refused to be hospitalized to be able to attend the final hearing.

“They sent me to hospital. If I were in hospital, I wouldn’t be here and they would accuse me again of avoiding hearings,” said Pūkas.

After the parliament opened impeachment proceedings against Pūkas, the Constitutional Court has to rule whether the actions specified in a conclusion of the parliamentary ad hoc commission ran counter to the Organic Law.

The MP’s conduct is also subject to a pre-trial investigation. Prosecutors say that four women’s testimonies and information gathered as part of the pre-trial investigation provide reasonable grounds to suspect that Pūkas between January and February 2017 sexually harassed persons subordinate to him.

Pūkas, who was elected to the parliament on the Order and Justice list, says that his political opponents are behind the impeachment efforts.