Several dozen young people gathered outside the Seimas on Friday morning in a symbolic funeral protest against the ruling coalition’s recent actions, including its move to advance legislation that would ease the dismissal of the national public broadcaster’s director general.
The daylong demonstration, titled “In memoriam ‘A Functioning State’ 2024–2025”, was organised by the Lithuanian Youth Council, the Vilnius University Student Representation and the Lithuanian National Union of Students.
Around 20 protesters were present early Friday, though organisers said they expected turnout to grow throughout the day.
A symbolic coffin was placed in Independence Square, where participants laid white roses and lit candles under steady rain. Nearby wreaths bore inscriptions such as “To the State That Works, From the Lithuanian National Union of Students” and “Youth Mourns”.
“This is a process of burying the state,” said Ieva Vengrovskaja, president of the National Union of Students. “We haven’t buried it yet, but we are placing it in the coffin. And after yesterday’s Seimas session, it feels like the people sitting there – the members of parliament – have already buried it.”
She urged the ruling majority to halt the legislative push, calling it a “mess” and saying that doing so would be “a perfect Christmas gift for the whole country”. Vengrovskaja said organisers plan to hold additional protests in the coming days.
Youth leaders say trust in government is crumbling
Umberto Masi, president of the Lithuanian Youth Council, said the behaviour of lawmakers is eroding public confidence in state institutions.
“It hurts us when decision-makers in the parliamentary chamber insult each other, and when some coalition leaders even allow themselves to insult young people with strange remarks,” he said. “And then we’re asked why young people don’t vote. The shameful question is why they would vote when this is the example being set.”
Masi noted that the phrase “a functioning state”, used in the protest’s title, is also a campaign slogan of the Social Democrats.
Student participant Mėja Daubarytė said she joined the protest because she disagrees with the ruling bloc’s policies.
“The whole atmosphere feels like a funeral after watching yesterday’s Seimas session,” she said. “It seems as if Tuesday’s protest – all 40,000 people who came – meant nothing. It was a slap in the face.”
Another student, Algis Brazdauskas, said he felt “betrayed”. A student named Kristupas said he was frustrated by a government that “ignores the will of the people”.
“It’s exhausting to see people trying to speak up, calling for free expression, shouting their opinions – and the Seimas corridors echo with those voices – yet lawmakers ignore them and continue their political choreography,” he said.
Tensions rise after vote on LRT amendment
The protest comes one day after the Seimas, with votes from the ruling parties, approved the first reading of a Social Democrat–backed amendment to the Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) law that would make it easier to remove the broadcaster’s director general.
Lawmakers also agreed to consider the bill under an accelerated procedure, following a request from Social Democrat Šarūnas Birutis.
The opposition had collected the signatures needed to request an impact assessment, but session chair Raimondas Šukys refused to accept the document. He also rejected MP Agnė Širinskienė’s request to open the bill for public consultation.
Both LRT employees and the Association of Professional Journalists say rushed amendments introduced without meaningful discussion threaten the independence of the public broadcaster and media freedom.
A similar proposal from Nemunas Dawn leader Remigijus Žemaitaitis has been suspended while experts conduct an assessment.
Friday’s demonstration was the third protest outside the Seimas this week. On Tuesday, tens of thousands rallied against the planned LRT law changes. On Wednesday, about 70 trucks lined Gediminas Avenue as the transport association Linava demanded government action regarding Lithuanian trucks detained in Belarus.
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