Nausėda defends Meškauskaitė appointment to LRT council

President Gitanas Nausėda said the LRT council should include independent members representing different views in society, defending his appointment of lawyer Liudvika Meškauskaitė to the public broadcaster’s governing body, LRT reported.

“I want the LRT council to consist of independent people, not necessarily representing one political ideology recognised in Lithuania as correct and infallible, but also representing another part of society that may view events differently,” Nausėda said in an interview broadcast Tuesday by radio station Žinių radijas.

He described Meškauskaitė as one of the few professional lawyers in Lithuania who also work in the media sector.

Meškauskaitė was appointed to replace Giedrius Jucevičius, who resigned in March. Nausėda chose her from two candidates; lawyer Vytis Turonis was also considered.

Meškauskaitė is a lawyer, attorney and specialist in media, human rights, constitutional, civil and criminal law. She is also involved in the self-governance of the Lithuanian Bar Association, works as an associate professor at Vilnius University and Mykolas Romeris University, and is active in civil society.

BNS reported that some opposition politicians had called her appointment politicised. She has also faced criticism from some representatives of the journalism community.

Nausėda rejected attempts to associate Meškauskaitė with a particular political force, noting that she had previously represented Professor Vytautas Landsbergis in his dispute with writer Vytautas Petkevičius.

“We have to talk about the fact that these people will perform a specific function on the LRT council, which is very important: helping LRT management make certain decisions, set its strategy and implement it. They must do this collegially and, when necessary, critically,” the president said.

He added that he had no specific expectations of the LRT council members he appointed. He said he wanted them to act according to their conscience and beliefs and help the public broadcaster offer people a higher-quality product.

Nausėda has also appointed LRT council chairman Mindaugas Jurkynas, deputy chair Rėda Brandišauskienė and Renata Mendeikienė.

The LRT council has 12 members. The president and the Seimas each appoint four members, while four others are appointed by the Research Council, the Lithuanian Artists Association, the Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference and the Lithuanian Education Council. Council members serve six-year terms.