Lithuanian public broadcaster law moves forward despite opposition calls to delay

A bid by opposition lawmakers to postpone debate on controversial amendments to Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT law failed Monday after the ruling coalition rejected the proposal in an extraordinary committee session, LRT.lt reports.

The Culture Committee’s unscheduled meeting—held on a Monday, typically reserved for lawmakers’ constituency work—proceeded over objections from conservative MP Vytautas Juozapaitis, who argued the session lacked urgency and disrupted parliamentary routine. “There is no declared emergency, and today’s work should focus on constituents,” Juozapaitis stated, calling the move a “violation of procedure.”

Opposition members also criticized the exclusion of observers, including journalists and civil society groups, from the session. Only individuals who had formally submitted proposals on the draft law were permitted to attend—a restriction that drew comparisons to a similar closed-door meeting in late 2023. The Lithuanian Journalists’ Professional Association had urged opponents of the bill to join remotely, but access was denied.

Juozapaitis further claimed the amendments target LRT’s current director general, alleging the ruling majority seeks to replace them with an interim appointee who could “restructure the broadcaster into a tool for government orders.” He cited the absence of a Venice Commission opinion on the draft—a standard requirement for media-related legislation—as evidence of procedural flaws. “Proceeding without it shows a lack of ethical maturity in European legal standards,” he argued.

Democrat Union “For Lithuania” MP Rima Baškienė echoed concerns, noting that the unscheduled meeting itself signaled undue haste. She referenced calls from media freedom advocates, including the “Reporters Without Borders” affiliate in Lithuania, to pause deliberations pending external reviews.

Committee chair Kęstutis Vilkauskas (Social Democrats) defended the session, stating it was convened at the request of three members—Indrė Kižienė, Vytautas Grubliauskas (both Social Democrats), and Petras Dargis of the “Nemuno Aušra” party—as permitted by committee rules. Vilkauskas maintained that prior working-group meetings and public hearings had already provided ample opportunity for input, including from legal experts like Mykolas Romeris University professor Toma Birmontienė.

The ruling coalition, which holds four of the committee’s seven seats, requires no opposition support to advance the bill. No further delays were approved.