Protest planned outside Lithuanian parliament against proposed LRT governance reforms

A new protest titled “Hands Off Free Speech” will take place outside Lithuania’s parliament on Tuesday, with organisers warning that proposed amendments to the law governing public broadcaster LRT threaten its independence, state news agency BNS reports.

Critics, including the Association of Professional Journalists, argue that the draft law—currently under review by the parliamentary Culture Committee—would politicise LRT by introducing a new governing board, expanding its supervisory council, and tightening control over content production. The group claims the changes risk turning the broadcaster into a “tool of censorship” under political influence.

“Despite tens of thousands of you protesting in December, those in power are pushing ahead with legislation that could hand control of our public broadcaster to figures like [MPs] Žemaitaitis, Skardžius, Zuokas, and Girskienė,” the association stated, questioning whether LRT should be managed by lawmakers who oppose national security projects, such as a planned military training ground.

The amendments, prepared by a parliamentary working group, include:

• Defining LRT’s mission for the first time in law;
• Creating a new governing board and expanding the supervisory council from 12 to 15 members;
• Setting stricter requirements for council members, including “impeccable reputation”;
• Restricting external media involvement in LRT content production without council approval;
• Easing the dismissal process for LRT’s director-general, though retaining the two-thirds vote threshold for no-confidence motions.

Protests in December, drawing over 10,000 participants, temporarily halted the reforms. A similar rally is planned in Šiauliai. Critics, including journalists and academics, argue the changes undermine LRT’s editorial independence, while supporters claim they modernise governance.