Lithuania has come under the scrutiny of international organizations due to proposed amendments to the law governing its public broadcaster, LRT

Sunday, Dec 14, 2025

Delfi

Proposed Lithuanian law changes to simplify LRT director dismissal face criticism from EU bodies and public protests.

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The Seimas approved amendments to the National Radio and Television Act on Thursday, which simplify the dismissal process for the head of LRT. The proposed changes, initiated by the “Nemuno aušra” and “ValstieÄŤiai Ĺľaliaji” factions, allow for the confidential dismissal of the LRT director and reduce the required number of votes from eight to seven out of twelve LRT board members. The project removes the need to link dismissal reasons to public interest, allowing removal if the administrator performs poorly or if the board rejects the annual activity report.

These proposed changes have drawn significant concern from international bodies. Organizations monitoring freedom of the press, including the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), warn that the amendments could severely damage the editorial independence and financial stability of the public broadcaster, potentially violating Article 5 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. They argue the changes facilitate greater political pressure on LRT management.

The EBU’s Central and Eastern Europe group specifically urged the Seimas to reject the amendments, stating they undermine safeguards against political influence and contradict EU standards for public service broadcasters. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also warned that Lithuania risks violating the European Media Freedom Act, which requires dismissal decisions to be well-founded and exceptional.

In response to these concerns, the European Commission reviewed the proposed amendments and requested Lithuanian institutions to clarify their compliance with the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. Furthermore, members of the European Parliament have repeatedly called on the Commission to assess the legislation against EU standards and intervene to prevent political interference in LRT’s governance. Public opposition has also been evident, with protests and a petition signed by over 130,000 people.

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