Lithuania - May 2023

Municipal council members have been accused of abusing expense claims based on recently published expense reports. Municipal councils have been criticised for lax expense reimbursement policies, including a failure to request that expense claims are substantiated by receipts. Three cabinet members were accused of misusing expense claims while working as municipal councillors, leading to the resignation of Education Minister Jurgita Siugzdiniene, who had previously served on Kaunas Council. The Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) party of the centre-right ruling coalition has called for snap elections. Opposition parties have in turn called for the governing coalition to resign. 

Sources: Intellinews, Lrytas, Reuters