Lithuanian Seimas speaker ousted over rumours of links to crime

• 15.09.2009, 16:18

Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament Arunas Valinskas was ousted On September 15.

Delfi.lt reports about this. The reason for resignation was rumours in mass media saying Valinskas had ties to crime.

95 MPs voted in favour of his ouster, 20 voted against, 9 ballots were spoilt at the secret voting.

Valinskas was involved in the scandal in August 2009 when local media published pictures of the former speaker talking to a member of a Kaunas-based criminal group, Rolandas Mikalskis, or Miha. Mikalskis was dubbed by media a member of Daktara’s criminal group, organized by Genrikas Daktaras, that specialized in robbery and blackmailing. By the way, Daktaras, who was on wanted list, has recently been detained in Bulgaria, Lenta.ru reminds.

Valinskas explained the picture was related to his former job (he was a TV showman before) and said he had no ties to crime. The speaker addressed prosecutors who confirmed the law enforcement agencies had no claims to the politician.

However, a part of MPs (in particular, oppositional social democrats) continue to insist on Valinskas’s ouster. President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite suggested that the speaker resign before the decision of the parliament. Valinskas refused.

Former showbiz Arunas Valinskas headed the National Resurrection Party ahead of the parliamentary elections 2008. The party was dubbed a TV stars party by media, as its members were mainly show business representatives. The party won seats in the parliament and joined the governing coalition. Shortly before the scandal around Valinskas’s ties with crime, the party split.