Authors of an appeal have challenged a new regulation adopted on June 2, 2019, arguing that the legislation fails to guarantee the independence of the LRT from political influence. The appeal highlights several structural concerns within the new law, particularly regarding the mechanism for dismissing the LRT director and potential violations of established principles of the rule of law. The petition filed with the Seimas emphasizes that the amendments modifying the model for forming the LRT council and altering the procedure for dismissing the general director raise significant legal questions regarding compliance with constitutional provisions.
Specifically, the appellants argue that these changes undermine the constitutional guarantees of freedom of the media and prohibit censorship. The central argument posits that the public broadcaster constitutes a pillar of democracy, necessitating independence from both politicians and the ruling political majority—a principle enshrined in the Constitution. The authors point to several specific changes within the law that compromise this independence.
These include the shortening of terms for LRT council members, the repeated possibility of reappointment, and the establishment of unclear selection criteria for leadership roles. Collectively, the appeal contends that these modifications weaken the operational autonomy of the LRT. The dispute centers on whether the revised law structure adequately protects the broadcaster’s editorial integrity and governance from undue political interference.
The appellants seek judicial review based on these concerns regarding the governance framework established by the recent legislation affecting the LRT members and its overall legal compliance.
Topics: #lrt #law #members
