Despite ongoing protests against the politicisation of LRT, the governing coalition will not back down from plans to reform the public broadcaster, Speaker of the Seimas Juozas Olekas said on Thursday.
“We will do what needs to be done and change what needs to be changed. We will talk to those who are willing to talk, not those who crookedly show the middle finger,” Olekas told LRT RADIO in reference to a crude gesture shown toward the parliament during the protest on Wednesday.
Further reading
He said the amendments are expected to be adopted during the Seimas spring session, adding that there has been sufficient time for discussion.
“There is no undue haste, but nor is there any attempt to delay it. The Seimas had scheduled this issue to be discussed in plenary on April 7. As the committee took a little longer, I expect it will return to the chamber and be put to a vote,” he added.
As the Seimas continues to consider amendments to the LRT law, more than 10,000 people gathered in Vilnius on Wednesday for a protest entitled "Hands Off Free Speech."
According to the organisers, the current draft law would restrict the independence of the public broadcaster and politicise LRT.
The Seimas has approved the amendments, prepared by a working group, at the initial stage, and they are now under consideration by the Committee on Culture.
FM: 'We should take note of signals being sent to us'
Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said on Thursday that the government should take note of expert conclusions about the proposed reforms.
“I am referring to the conclusions of the Venice Commission. Of course, these must be taken into account and considered, because Lithuania does not have the luxury or the right to raise doubts either about the democratic process or media freedom.
But I am convinced that both will be ensured,” Budrys told Žinių Radijas on Thursday.
On March 7, the Venice Commission said the budget freeze and the easier dismissal of the director general were creating risks of politicisation. It is now prepararing to issue new conclusions following the updated proposals from the Seimas.
The commission is an independent, advisory body to the Council of Europe that assists countries in establishing whether their legal systems are in line with international democratic standards.
Budrys stressed that Lithuania must maintain its high positions in media freedom rankings. According to the minister, this reflects the country’s level of democracy and “a certain standard in the region that we want to see”.
“Reports suggesting that we are already sliding backwards are unfounded. Once again, I would say they have no basis, just as the European Commission’s assessment of the state of democracy and the rule of law in Lithuania does not indicate this. However, we should take note of certain signals being sent to us,” he said.
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