Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reforms called “amateur work” by opposition lawmaker
The recently adopted amendments to Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT law are a “product of amateur tinkering,” conservative lawmaker Vytautas Juozapaitis said Tuesday, criticising the reforms as politically motivated and poorly executed.
The Seimas (parliament) approved the revised law with 77 votes in favour and one against, while opposition parties boycotted the vote. The changes, which include establishing a new governing board and expanding LRT’s supervisory council, have sparked one of the largest public backlashes in recent years, drawing thousands to protests under the slogan “Hands off free speech.”
Speaking on LRT’s Dienos tema programme, Juozapaitis, vice-chair of the Seimas Culture Committee, dismissed the reforms as unnecessary and flawed. “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” he said, accusing the ruling coalition of dismantling LRT’s governance “like a clock” without clear improvements.
The most contentious change, Juozapaitis argued, was a provision easing the dismissal of LRT’s director-general—a measure he claimed was targeted at the current leadership. “They separated out the director’s dismissal clause so it takes effect immediately upon the president’s signature,” he said, calling the move a “red line” that contradicts recommendations from the Venice Commission, a Council of Europe advisory body. The commission’s opinion was reportedly ignored by the ruling parties.
Juozapaitis suggested the amendments could face legal challenges, noting that constitutional experts had flagged the director-general clause as potentially unconstitutional. “This isn’t over yet,” he warned, indicating that opposition factions may refer the issue to Lithuania’s Constitutional Court if President Gitanas Nausėda signs the law.
Kęstutis Vilkauskas, the Social Democrat chair of the Culture Committee, defended the reforms as necessary to “streamline governance” and clarify LRT’s mission. He cited the introduction of a governing board and expanded public representation in oversight as key improvements, along with legal adjustments to asset management.
The amendments follow months of public debate, including protests and criticism from media freedom advocates who argue the changes risk politicising LRT’s operations. The law now awaits the president’s signature to enter into force.