LRT reforms spark debate as journalist leader questions who “started this war”
The proposed reforms to Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT remain contentious, with the head of the Journalists’ Professional Association accusing the government of escalating tensions rather than seeking compromise, as a protest against “politicisation” of LRT looms this weekend.
Speaking on LRT’s Dienos tema programme, Birutė Davidonytė, chair of the association, responded to Prime Minister Ingida Šimonytė’s recent call for “peace” in the dispute by asking, “Who actually started this war? It wasn’t the journalistic community or society—it was them [the government] who turned LRT into the state’s most pressing issue, sometimes even overshadowing the polygon [military training] debate.”
Davidonytė criticised the urgency of the reforms, noting the “unprecedented rush” in convening extraordinary committee sessions. She argued that if the government truly sought resolution, it would align with recommendations from the Venice Commission, legal experts, and professional assessments. “Then there would be peace,” she said.
The comments follow a Culture Ministry letter to LRT demanding clarification on the employment status of journalist Rita Miliūtė, a move Davidonytė called “government pressure over content.” She warned that proposed legal amendments—including potential bans on specific journalists and expanded government authority over LRT—risked further restricting media freedom.
Kęstutis Vilkauskas, chair of the Seimas Culture Committee (Social Democrats), acknowledged political divisions but stressed the committee’s legal approach, claiming progress on “many good proposals” for LRT’s governance. “We’re trying to listen to all sides and reduce tensions,” he said, though Davidonytė dismissed the claim of compromise, citing two weeks of intense, unresolved committee debates.
A protest titled “Hands Off Free Speech” is scheduled for Saturday in Vilnius’ Cathedral Square, with organisers insisting the threat to LRT’s independence persists despite claims of legislative progress.