Lithuania’s Social Democratic parliamentary faction on Wednesday announced plans to register another bill that would change the rules governing the dismissal of the head of the national public broadcaster LRT.
The proposed amendments to the Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) law would allow the broadcaster’s director general to be removed for a lack of confidence if they fail to properly carry out statutory duties or if the LRT Council does not approve the annual activity report, provided that more than half of council members – at least 7 out of 12 – vote in favour of dismissal.
“The purpose of this amendment is to clarify the accountability mechanisms for the LRT director general,” the explanatory note states.
The bill also proposes that the LRT Council appoint and dismiss the director by secret vote. Lawmakers said the proposal would be submitted with signatures from representatives of all ruling coalition factions.
Under current law, the LRT director general is appointed and dismissed by the LRT Council for a five-year term through an open vote following a public competition. The director may only be dismissed for a lack of confidence if the council cites the public interest and at least two-thirds of its members – eight of 12 – vote in favour.
The parliament has already begun considering a separate amendment that would allow LRT’s director to be removed by only half of LRT Council members (six out of 12) in a secret vote.
The proposed changes sparked a protest from the journalist community and a big rally outside the parliament on Tuesday which drew at least 10,000 people. Organisers said they see the move as a threat to media freedom, arguing that attempts to take over the public broadcaster mark the beginning of restrictions on media independence.
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Culture Minister Vaida Aleknavičienė told reporters Wednesday that earlier proposals were inadequate and in need of improvement, and that any bill must be fully debated.
“This current proposal is really unsuitable, and it would probably be simpler to discuss it with the community and then submit a new one. I hold the position that any decision made by the parliament must first comply with the European media freedom act,” Aleknavičienė said.
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