Opposition MPs succeeded in passing the so-called “cat amendment” this week in protest of controversial government-backed reforms.

It provides that the head of public broadcaster LRT can only be removed before the end of their term if Nuodėgulis, a black cat belonging to opposition MP Dalia Asanavičiūtė-Gružauskienė, expresses a lack of confidence in them.

The amendment was approved in the Seimas in a 43-23 vote with eight abstentions on Tuesday evening, and the overall bill including the cat provision was passed on Wednesday with 67 in favour and 47 against.

There is now only one remaining opportunity in the legislative process to remove the provision before it becomes law, LRT reports.

Thousands of people have joined protests against the proposed reforms to the governance of LRT, led by ministers belonging to right-wing populist party Dawn of Nemunas.

The party’s leader, Remigijus Žemaitaitis, was fined earlier this month after being convicted by a court of inciting hatred against Jews and downplaying the Holocaust and Nazi rule.

An online petition against the LRT reforms has received over 140,000 signatures.