Lithuanian MP claims legal grounds now exist to dismiss LRT director

Lithuania’s opposition leader Aurelijus Veryga has stated that recent amendments to public broadcasting laws provide sufficient grounds to dismiss the director general of Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), Monika Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė.

Speaking to Žinių Radijas on Wednesday, Veryga—leader of the Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS)—argued that Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė should have resigned earlier amid her conflict with LRT’s governing council. “In her position, I would have stepped down myself if I were in that situation,” he said. “We’re not just talking about dismissal—clearly, dismissal requires solid grounds, but I believe those grounds are more than sufficient now.”

The Seimas (parliament) approved changes to LRT’s governance model on Tuesday, establishing a new supervisory board, expanding its council, and introducing term limits. Under the revised law, the director general may now be removed by a two-thirds majority vote of the council before their term expires if they no longer meet reputation standards, fail to fulfill duties, or commit a serious breach of professional conduct.

Lawmakers rejected a proposal by the Special Investigation Service to require open voting on the director’s appointment and dismissal, instead leaving the voting method to the discretion of LRT’s council. The amendments also cap the director’s tenure to two consecutive terms, with Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė’s current term—beginning in October 2023—counted as her first.

The changes take effect immediately, meaning the current director could face dismissal under the new rules.