Lithuania: Liberal Movement to pick new leader amid corruption scandal

Lithuania's opposition Liberal Movement is holding an extraordinary congress in Vilnius on Saturday to pick new leadership amid the corruption scandal.

"During the congress, we will make crucial decisions to ensure renewal of our party, we will approve measures to boost the party's transparency. We will present a program that envisages specific instruments on how we will seek to build a modern, educated, and wealthy Lithuania," the party's acting leader Remigijus Simasius, also the mayor of the capital Vilnius, said ahead of the congress.

Eligijus Masiulis stepped down from the party's leadership in early May amid suspicions of taking a bribe from MG Baltic concern's vice-president Raimondas Kurlianskis. Later in May, the authorities brought suspicions against Masiulis of accepting a bribe of about 100,000 euros. He is also suspected of unlawful enrichment, as a search of his home revealed about 250,000 euros in cash.

The investigation had a negative effect upon the Liberal Movement's ratings. According to the latest poll published in delfi.lt news portal, 6.6 per cent of respondents pledged to vote for the Liberals in May, which is a considerable decline from 15.5 per cent in April.