In Lithuania, 10,000 people are protesting against amendments that threaten the independence of the LRT.
More than 10,000 people rallied in Lithuania's capital on Tuesday to protest proposed amendments in parliament that critics say could threaten the independence of the country's public broadcaster.
Demonstrators filled the square in front of the Seimas, Lithuania's parliament, waving flags and chanting slogans in support of Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT).
“Today we are sending one message: let's preserve the independence and freedom of LRT, because they will not stop there,” said journalist Rita Miliute from the stage.
The amendments were introduced last month by Remigijus Žemaitaitis, founder of the populist party “Niemunas' Dawn,” who was expelled from another political party in 2023 after making anti-Semitic remarks. Members of parliament quickly advanced the proposal and attempted to expedite its consideration, drawing criticism from journalists, civil society organizations, and opposition lawmakers.
“This is an open attempt by politicians to seize control of the public broadcaster, which belongs to you all, and thus violate your right to receive reliable information,” said the Association of Professional Journalists, which organized the protest on Tuesday.
Birutė Davidonytė, the association's chairwoman and one of the rally's leaders, noted that journalists have called on legislators from the very beginning to conduct proper consultations on any changes to the media law. “We…have proposed from the very beginning to sit down and discuss possible amendments, as is done in all Western countries,” she said. According to her, the goal of the protest is to demand the complete rejection of the LRT amendments.
The proposal is currently awaiting consideration by a parliamentary committee, but the process has been suspended after opposition MPs requested an expert analysis of its potential impact.
According to the bill, a simple majority of the broadcaster's 12-seat supervisory board would be required to remove the LRT director general. Currently, eight votes are required. The board consists of four members appointed by the president, four by parliament, and four by public organizations.
The Parliament's Legal Department warned that the amendment could contradict the Constitutional Court's doctrine on media independence and could conflict with the European Law on Freedom of the Media.
On Tuesday, Zemaitaitis rejected accusations that he seeks to influence the content of LRT, calling the claims “fantasy.”
More than 130,000 people have signed a petition asking parliament to reconsider the amendments as the debate over media independence continues to escalate.
