Stopping the political takeover of Lithuania’s TV station

Summary

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 22 January 2026 that condemns attempts to take control of Lithuania’s public broadcaster, LRT, and warns that this threatens democracy and media freedom.

• Why it matters – Independent public media are essential for checking power, fighting disinformation, and keeping citizens informed. Weakening LRT would make it easier for political forces to spread propaganda and undermine the rule of law.

• Recent events – After the 2024 elections, a coalition that includes the far‑right Nemunas Dawn party began pushing changes that would:

  • Freeze LRT’s 2026‑2028 budget at the 2025 level of €79.6 million.
  • Reduce its share of tax revenue, cutting long‑term funding.
  • Lower the safeguards that protect the director‑general from early dismissal – the new rules would allow a simple majority vote, remove the need for a public‑interest justification, and introduce secret ballots.
  • Give two‑thirds (8 of 12) of the LRT Council seats to political appointees.

• Public reaction – LRT staff went on strike on 9 December 2025. Tens of thousands of citizens protested in Vilnius from 16‑18 December, and 140 000 people signed a petition against the changes.

• European response – The resolution:

  • Calls on the Lithuanian parliament (Seimas) to reject the amendments and restore proper safeguards.
  • Urges the government to keep LRT’s funding stable and independent.
  • Demands that any future changes be made only after a thorough, transparent consultation with journalists, civil society, and EU bodies.
  • Warns that targeting a specific person (the director‑general) with “ad personam” legislation is illegal and undermines the rule of law.
  • Requests the European Commission to monitor the situation and use EU tools if Lithuania does not comply.

• Key points for Lithuania – Keep LRT’s funding predictable, protect its editorial independence, limit political influence on its governing council, and ensure that any law changes go through open, inclusive debate.

The resolution stresses that protecting public broadcasters is a shared European responsibility and essential for a healthy democracy.