Lithuanian Parliament Votes on Final Amendments to LRT Law

The Lithuanian parliament, known as the Seimas, has conducted its final vote on significant amendments to the Law on Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT). This legislative move follows a second reading in late May, where the draft received support from 67 members of parliament, with 30 voting against and 7 abstaining.

The core of the amendments involves a reformulation of LRT's mission and a restructuring of its governing council. The council's size will increase from 12 to 15 members. Under the new provisions, the president will delegate four representatives, the Seimas will appoint another four, and the remaining seven will be selected by a diverse group of Lithuanian bodies, including the Lithuanian Science Council, the Lithuanian Education Council, the Lithuanian Arts Creators Association, the Lithuanian Bishops' Conference, the Lithuanian Union of Local Communities, the National Coalition of NGOs, and organizations representing persons with disabilities.

This reformed LRT council will be responsible for strategic and content-related matters, tasked with submitting an annual activity report to the Seimas by May 30. Furthermore, the law now stipulates that the Director General of LRT can be dismissed before their term expires if they no longer meet the requirements of impeccable reputation or commit a gross violation of duties. This decision requires a majority vote of at least two-thirds of the council members, who retain the discretion to vote openly or secretly on such dismissals, a change from the current law's requirement for open voting.

Additional changes include the establishment of a new governing body, the LRT Board, effective January 1, 2028. This five-member board, appointed by the LRT council through an open vote following a public competition for four-year terms, will oversee strategy implementation and organizational, financial, and operational management.

Notably, proposals to delay the implementation of the Director General's dismissal clause until 2028 were rejected, meaning the new rules could apply to the current national broadcaster's head. The Venice Commission, after reviewing the draft amendments, recommended further improvements, urging a thorough analysis and suggesting that changes related to the Director General's dismissal should only apply to future appointees. The proposed LRT law amendments have previously sparked protests.