The court confirmed that budget funds can only be allocated to political parties, not to political committees, upholding the decision against 'United Kaunas'.
On Wednesday, the court announced its decision to uphold the Electoral Commission's ruling from February 10, which rejected the complaint from the political committee 'United Kaunas' regarding the allocation of state budget funds. This decision highlights the existing legal framework in Lithuania, which only permits funding for registered political parties, thereby excluding political committees from such financial support.
The commission's decision has raised concerns of constitutional fairness from 'United Kaunas', which argued that the current regulations violate the principle of equality enshrined in the Constitution. They maintain that all political entities should be treated equally and entitled to similar funding opportunities, thus calling for a referral to the Constitutional Court to challenge this legal limitation and seek a potential revision of the law.
This ruling could have significant implications for smaller political committees in Lithuania, potentially restricting their operational capabilities compared to established parties that receive state funding. If the Constitutional Court decides to take up the case, it could pave the way for reforms in the political finance landscape in Lithuania, determining the future of funding for similar political entities in the country.
