LRT director condemns new public broadcaster law as worse than current version

The newly approved amendments to Lithuania’s national broadcaster law significantly weaken institutional independence and increase bureaucracy, the director of LRT warned on Tuesday.

Monika Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė, LRT’s general director, called the revised legislation—passed by parliament on June 2—“far worse” than the existing framework, despite the removal of some controversial provisions. In a Facebook post, she accused lawmakers of creating a “Frankenstein of governance” that would cost taxpayers an additional €300,000 annually while slowing decision-making.

“The ruling coalition has spawned a monster,” Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė wrote, arguing that the changes mask an attempt to “seize control” of the public broadcaster. She claimed the law ignores nearly all recommendations from the STT, the Venice Commission, and independent experts, while leaving LRT’s funding frozen and its governing council unpoliticised.

The director also thanked journalists and protesters for delaying the law’s passage, which had initially been rushed for approval in December. “Thanks to you, we avoided living like Hungary or Slovakia,” she said, referencing concerns over media freedom in those countries.

Birutė Davidonytė, head of the Journalists’ Professional Association, expressed hope that opposition parties would challenge the law in the Constitutional Court. While acknowledging that mass protests helped remove the most contentious clauses—particularly those threatening press freedom—she noted lingering issues, including expanded bureaucracy and the failure to implement Venice Commission advice on leadership appointments.

“The law isn’t perfect, but the worst provisions are gone,” Davidonytė told ELTA, crediting public pressure. She declined to comment on potential new protests.

Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė concluded that the legal battle may not be over, stating she expects the amendments to face constitutional review.