The Seimas mixed group and Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats group requested to remove the question of the LRT from today’s Seimas agenda, citing the need to wait for the Constitutional Court‘s ruling on whether such a parliamentary investigation of a news media outlet does not clash with the Constitution.
The Seimas has already voted on the conclusions twice. The first time they were rejected and sent back to the Culture Committee, chaired by Ramūnas Karbauskis, for amending. While the committee returned the conclusions unchanged, the second vote was won with 55 voting in favour, 47 against and 3 abstaining.
While the opposition claims that the changes will allow for more effective and transparent management of the national broadcaster, the opposition is critical of the proposals, noting that this way the work of the LRT is politicised and “Farmer” representatives would gain influence on the broadcaster’s management.
The LRT’s management, as well as international organisations such as the European Broadcaster’s Union and UNESCO have expressed concern over the suggested management changes.
“Farmer” leader Ramūnas Karbauskis has registered amendments linked to the conclusions, which he believes could be passed in the Seimas spring session without waiting for the conclusions to be approved and the Constitutional Court to rule on adherence to the Constitution in general.