As the ruling coalition does not abandon the amendments simplifying the dismissal of the head of LRT (Lithuanian public media), thousands of people gathered again on Thursday at Independence Square near the Lithuanian Seimas to protest for freedom of speech.
Protesters gathered around bonfires in the square, holding tricolors, historical flags with Vytis, and signs reading: “Meow – maybe this is clearer?”, “Žemaitaitis, Skardžius, let Nausėda go – leave the shame for yourselves”, “Without free speech, there will be no state”, “The crown is heavy when there is no spine.”
On the main day of the protest – Wednesday – more than 10,000 people gathered near the Seimas.
Lucija Zubrutė, the deputy editor of the business publication Verslo žinios, stated at the protest that the amendments to the LRT law are aimed at “politicizing the public broadcaster.”
“And let’s not be naive: all subsequent authorities will eagerly take advantage of this politicization, regardless of which parties are elected. They will certainly be glad that someone paved this path, which can later be used to exert pressure on all media, not just the public broadcaster,” Zubrutė said.
Gražina Arlićkaitė, the founder of the Scanorama film festival, expressed regret that after 35 years of independence, it is necessary to fight again for the voice of the people to be heard.
Meanwhile, writer Kristina Sabaliauskaitė called for the demand for early elections.
As reported by BNS, the ruling party planned to adopt the amendments on Thursday, according to which the general director of LRT can be dismissed based on a secret vote by seven out of 12 members of the broadcaster's council due to an unapproved annual report or improper performance of duties.
To reduce tensions between the initiators of the amendments and the protesters, President Gitanas Nausėda and Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė called for the LRT Council to resign. This would also lead to the resignation of the director and her deputy.
The current law stipulates that the general director of LRT can be dismissed through an open vote with eight out of 12 votes from council members, and the public interest must serve as the basis for dismissal.
However, at the moment, the parliament approved an ironic opposition amendment stating that the cat of MP Agnė Širinskienė – Nuodegulis (Coal) – must participate in the dismissal process.
This is one of hundreds of opposition proposals aimed at delaying the adoption of the amendments.
