L. Balsa, voting against the LRT amendments: I hold the position that such a law was not needed

During a session at the Seimas on Tuesday, L. Balsa stated his consistent position that the proposed legislation regarding the public broadcaster was unnecessary. According to the Seimas member, the impetus for reforming the public broadcaster should originate from the journalism community itself, rather than from political figures.

Balsa emphasized the need for extreme caution when undertaking reforms within the media sector, particularly concerning the national public broadcaster. He stated that such reforms must be initiated and concluded by the journalists who work in the field, not by politicians. “I hold the opinion that reforms in the media sphere, especially when we are talking about a public broadcaster, must be approached with great care,” Balsa told journalists.

He continued, asserting that while reforms can be implemented, the initiative must come from the community itself, and definitively not from politicians. This viewpoint suggests that the professional body responsible for journalism should lead the discussion and subsequent changes. Balsa dismissed the need for the current draft, as well as any previous or intermediate versions of the law.

The discussion surrounding the Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT) remains contentious, with other lawmakers also contributing to the debate. K. Vilkauskas noted that achieving a solution acceptable to all involved parties appears unlikely amid the ongoing political discourse.

Balsa’s statements underscore a deep division regarding the appropriate governance structure for the nation’s primary public broadcasting entity.

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