The president has suggested that the prohibition for political parties to control the media should be reinstated.
Initially, the amendments had to prevent municipalities from abusing publishing of newspapers with the help of education establishments founded by municipalities. However, trying to eliminate legal deficiencies, Parliament created even better conditions to politicise the media. When the provision preventing political parties from owning media outlets or being producers of public information was expunged, a safeguard was lifted which had been in force for over 20 years and restricted political parties' ability to control the media.
At the moment, political parties are only allowed to publish non-periodical informative publications and own websites to inform about their activities. If the amendments are passed at Parliament, political parties will be able to acquire and manage the most popular TV and radio channels, major websites, newspapers and magazines with the highest circulation and publish information which is favourable to them.
President Grybauskaite says that not only the quality of public information is at stake, but the freedom of the press and democracy as well. The influence of politicians on the media is one of the main criteria determining how a country is evaluated in the global media freedom index.
Nonetheless, the president does approve of the proposal to prohibit municipalities from publishing periodical publications with hidden political advertising. The president says this provision should be included in the law.
