MP Matelis leaves ruling party's group in Seimas

Matelis, a former journalist, told BNS that his decision to leave the LPGU group was due to recent publicity involving LPGU Chairman Ramūnas Karbauskis and his former deputy Greta Kildišienė.

"We have work to do. Instead, Lithuania now has to discuss their relationship," he said.

This will reduce the number of members of the LPGU group to fifty-six.

Matelis is the second lawmaker to leave the LPGU group this week after Kildisiene, who gave up her MP seat amid criticism that she failed to inform her party about a pre-trial investigation opened a decade ago into alleged misappropriation by her of funds from her employer. The probe was closed after the money was returned.

Kildisiene earlier this month came under public scrutiny over a car leasing agreement between her mother and Agrokoncernas, a company owned by Karbauskis. The lawmaker used that car as well.

There were also public doubts about Kildisiene's education and certain facts of her biography.