The Lithuanian Seimas has approved controversial amendments to the law on the public broadcaster — LRT

On June 2, the Lithuanian Seimas adopted amendments to the law governing the activities of the public broadcaster LRT, which drew criticism from the opposition.

The amendments were supported by 77 lawmakers. Opposition representatives refused to participate in the vote, and only one lawmaker from the Social Democratic Party voted against it.

The bill was drafted by a special working group led by the Speaker of Parliament. The document subsequently underwent significant changes during its review by the Committee on Culture.

Proposals by individual lawmakers to postpone the vote or call for an additional recess did not receive support.

Seimas Speaker Saulius Skvernelis stated that the adopted law received the support of the majority of MPs and should contribute to a more efficient use of budget funds in the work of the public broadcaster.

At the same time, opposition representatives continue to criticize the changes. Eugenijus Gentvilas, a member of the Liberal Movement, stated that the government had not provided sufficient explanations regarding the changes in LRT’s management, and that the amendments themselves appear to be “revenge.”

Jurgis Razma, a representative of the Conservative Party, called the new version of the law “dangerous.”

Source: LRT.

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