Lithuania’s Public Broadcaster Faces Growing Political Pressure
– Lithuania’s public broadcaster, LRT, is facing increasing scrutiny and political pressure from the ruling coalition, raising concerns about media freedom and democratic backsliding. The situation has drawn criticism from European Union officials and international media organizations, who warn that proposed changes to LRT’s governance and funding could undermine its independence.
The controversy centers around proposed legal amendments that would make it easier to dismiss LRT’s Director General and changes to the broadcaster’s funding model. Lawmakers voted in November 2025 to freeze LRT’s annual budget at €79.6 million for 2026, 2027, and 2028, overriding a previously established mechanism that would have increased funding by roughly 11% in 2026, according to LRT. This budget change was implemented without consulting LRT management.
Simultaneously, a proposed amendment to lower the threshold for dismissing the Director General – requiring only a simple majority vote from the LRT Council instead of the current two-thirds requirement – passed its first reading in Parliament on November 27, 2025. Critics argue this would open the door to greater political interference in LRT’s management.
The pressure on LRT has been spearheaded by the Nemunas Dawn party, a member of the ruling coalition. According to the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and partner organizations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), politicians from Nemunas Dawn and other coalition parties have used audit findings to attack the public broadcaster, question its funding and governance, and justify attempts to increase political control.
These developments prompted a debate in the European Parliament on January 22, 2026, resulting in a resolution condemning attempts to undermine LRT’s independence. The resolution, led by Renew Europe, calls on the European Commission to take action to protect media freedom in Lithuania. Renew Europe warned that targeting public service media is often an early indicator of democratic backsliding, potentially preceding erosion of judicial independence and fair elections.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned on Wednesday, January 22, 2026, that Lithuania must ensure any changes to LRT’s governance comply with the European Media Freedom Act. “It is very important that the legislation regulating the activities of Lithuania’s public broadcaster does not deviate from the European Media Freedom Act,” Kallas told the European Parliament. She emphasized that the law was adopted to safeguard media independence and pluralism, essential for democratic stability.
The European Media Freedom Act, Kallas explained, requires EU member states to guarantee the independence of public broadcasters’ content and management. Dismissal of a director before the end of their term must be justified and limited to exceptional circumstances.
The concerns extend beyond the European Parliament. The EBU (European Broadcasting Union) has also voiced serious concerns, stating that the proposed legislative changes threaten public media independence. Despite public protests and minor revisions, the draft legislation still weakens safeguards and introduces vague grounds for dismissal with reduced voting thresholds, potentially contradicting the European Media Freedom Act.
In response to the European Parliament’s resolution, Lithuanian parliamentarians from the ruling coalition have criticized the resolution, arguing it represents an unwarranted interference in Lithuania’s internal affairs. A resolution was registered in the Lithuanian parliament calling on the European Parliament to refrain from interfering in Lithuania’s internal affairs.
LRT journalists organized a protest on December 9, 2025, in front of the Parliament to oppose the proposed changes, arguing they would “dismantle the safeguards that protect LRT’s independence.” The debate over LRT’s future underscores the broader challenges facing media freedom in Lithuania and the potential for political interference in public service broadcasting.
