Lithuanian parliament to vote on amendments changing LRT governance rules

The Lithuanian parliament (Seimas) will vote Tuesday on proposed amendments to the law governing the management of Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), following revisions by the Culture Committee, LRT reports.

The draft law, prepared by a working group led by Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas, introduces stricter conditions for dismissing LRT’s director general. Under the changes, the director could be removed before their term ends by a two-thirds majority of the LRT council if they no longer meet reputation standards or commit a serious breach of duty. The council would decide whether such votes are held openly or in secret—currently, appointments and dismissals require public ballots.

The amendments also define LRT’s mission for the first time and establish a new five-member governing board, appointed through open competition for four-year terms. Members would represent finance, asset management, human resources, strategic governance, and crisis management. The LRT council would expand from 12 to 15 members, with new seats allocated to representatives of local community organisations, disability rights groups, and other bodies. Council terms would shorten from six to four years, with clearer competence and reputation requirements for candidates.

Lawmakers rejected proposals to restrict other media representatives from contributing to LRT content. Editorial guidelines would be set by the heads of radio, television, and online news divisions. The Culture Committee also removed a provision that would have limited the amendments’ application to future directors—a change criticised by the Venice Commission, which argued existing leadership should not be subject to the new dismissal rules.

The bill has drawn protests from some journalists and civil groups. According to the BNS news agency, it incorporated around 200 suggestions from lawmakers, 15 organisations, and state institutions, alongside 40 legal notes from the Seimas Law Department.