Parliament bars merger of Latvian public media news departments

Latvia’s parliament has barred the news departments of Latvian Television and Latvian Radio from merging, and required the two broadcasters to retain their brands. LSM reported that 53 MPs backed the amendments on Thursday.

The law now states that the two news departments must operate as separate, unmerged and editorially independent units while fulfilling the public-service remit and ensuring a diversity of viewpoints. The amendments were proposed by independent MP Ieva Brante.

The issue reached parliament after some Latvian Public Media (LSM) employees objected to the management board’s explanation of how the Latvian Television and Latvian Radio brands would be retained. They wrote an open letter to MPs. The board and the employees later reached a compromise, but the Union of Greens and Farmers had already submitted amendments, which continued through the legislative process.

Before a committee meeting on Wednesday, the public media regulator and some LSM employees urged MPs not to fast-track the bill, citing unclear wording and concerns about the media’s independence. Parliament’s Legal Bureau clarified the wording, but further amendments affecting the media’s structure were submitted for the bill’s second reading.

At the committee meeting, LSM management, the Public Electronic Mass Media Council and employees with differing views took part. Latvian Television journalist Dāvids Freidenfelds said he did not consider the proposals a threat to media independence. Other participants urged MPs not to rush amendments that had been submitted for the final reading without sufficient discussion. Most MPs agreed that the news-department issue should be addressed in a separate bill, discussed through three readings. Parliament voted differently on Thursday.

On January 18, 2024, parliament passed amendments providing for Latvia to have one public media organisation from January 1, 2025, combining Latvian Radio and Latvian Television.