Lithuanian Parliament member Zemaitaitis was refused access to confidential high-level data
Lithuania's MP Denied Top Secret Clearance Over Trust Concerns
Lithuania's State Security Department (VSD) has recommended denying top-secret clearance to MP Remigijus Zemaitaitis, citing concerns about his loyalty and trustworthiness in handling classified information. The VSD's decision, based on the Constitutional Court's ruling against Zemaitaitis, could potentially impact his role in the ruling coalition.
Zemaitaitis, the leader of the Nemunas Dawn party, found himself in hot water last year when the Constitutional Court ruled that he had broken his oath due to hate speech on social media. Specifically, his statements criticizing Israel and blaming Jews for Soviet repressions against Lithuanians were deemed inappropriate. Following this ruling, Zemaitaitis resigned from the parliament but was re-elected in October.
The VSD conducted a thorough background check on Zemaitaitis and found reasonable doubts about his ability to adequately protect, properly fulfill duties, and comply with legal requirements for the protection of classified information. The department's report states that a person who has lost the confidence of the state cannot be granted the right to work or have access to secret information.
Seimas Speaker Viktoras Pranckietis has said he will follow the VSD's recommendation, meaning Zemaitaitis will not be granted clearance to work with or have access to classified information. This decision, however, does not affect Zemaitaitis' status as a member of the Seimas.
The VSD report was submitted to the Seimas speaker on Tuesday, and the parliament has been notified of the decision. The details of the report have not been made public, but it is understood that the decision was based on the department’s evaluation of potential threats and risks associated with Zemaitaitis' access to sensitive state secrets.
This development comes at a critical time for Lithuania, as the country faces various security challenges in the region. The denial of top-secret clearance to a member of the ruling coalition could potentially create political turbulence, but the VSD's decision underscores the importance of maintaining the highest levels of security when it comes to handling classified information.
The denial of top-secret clearance for MP Remigijus Zemaitaitis, due to concerns about his trustworthiness and loyalty, might stir political turbulence in Lithuania's ruling coalition, as it falls under the category of policy-and-legislation and general-news. Furthermore, the importance of maintaining high levels of security in handling classified information is emphasized by the politics involved in this decision.
