Parliament to change income declaration rules for state officials

VILNIUS (ELTA) - The Parliament kicked off debates Jan. 11 on draft
amendments to the law on property and income declaration. If passed,
the law would affect first the candidates running in the forthcoming
parliamentary and local elections who have never filled in such a
document. The candidates will be also required to submit a copy of
their declaration to the chief electoral commission.

Juozas Listavicius, the chairman of Parliament's budget and finance
committee, said the main provisions of documents were requirements to
declare both the unfinished and built, but non-registered, buildings
or constructions. The lawmaker admitted that declaration of
expenditures on unfinished buildings or constructions was
controversial, as well as that of house maintenance and subsistence
expenses.

According to Listavicius, the authors of draft amendments have
specified the declared property and emphasized declaration of income
and property by politicians and civil servants or those running for
such positions. Listavicius told fellow MPs the improvements were
inspired by defects in the current law and faulty filling in of
income declarations by Parliament members and other officials.

The speaker of Parliament, Vytautas Landsbergis, who recently
survived public and media attacks for concealing his purchase of land
in his property declaration, said he saw "many obscurities"in the
proposed changes. He called into question the suggested procedure for
the declaration of expenses and evaluation of jewels and art works.

"The actual law is incomplete; therefore, it caused problems. If we
amend it quickly, we will create new problems and look like we are
not serious,"he said.