Background

Former president Rolandas Paksas was removed from office in 2004 by impeachment, a parliamentary procedure which allows for the head of state to be ejected if they violate the country’s constitution.

Lithuania’s constitutional court found, among other things, that Paksas had illegally granted citizenship to a foreign businessman to reward him for supporting his election campaign. He had also disclosed a state secret to the same person warning him that he was under investigation by the authorities.

Despite his removal from office, Paksas decided to stand in new presidential elections.

But before those elections were held, parliament changed the law to stop any official who had been removed from office from being elected president until at least five years had passed. Paksas was forbidden to stand.

Lithuania’s constitutional court said the disqualification was allowed under the country’s constitution, but not the five-year time-limit – considering instead that the ban should be permanent.

Parliament also changed the law on parliamentary elections to bar any official who had been removed from office through impeachment proceedings from becoming a member.