After the Lithuanian president's video message played during an anti-LGBTQ+ rally last Saturday, his adviser says it was not meant specifically for the event.
President Gitanas Nausėda drew criticism for apparently endorsing the Family Defence March, a rally against the Istanbul Convention and same-sex partnership. A pre-recorded message from the president was played at the rally before appearing on official channels.
Read more: Lithuanian president addresses rally against 'genderist propaganda', backs traditional families
According to Nausėda's adviser Asta Skaisgirytė, the president's address was meant for all families of Lithuania.
“The president did not address specifically the participants of the march, but all families of Lithuania,” she told the radio Žinių Radijas on Tuesday. “There's a difference. The president congratulated all families in Lithuania on the International Family Day.”
During the controversial address, Nausėda appeared to oppose initiatives to introduce same-sex civil partnership.
“We must regulate issues of same-sex couples living together [...]. But it has to be done in line with Article 38 of the Lithuanian Constitution, which says that family is the foundation of the society and the state and that marriage is between a man and a woman. As a president of the Lithuanian Republic, I will use my powers to make sure it is so,” he said.
Many interpreted this to mean that Nausėda would veto a same-sex partnership law if it came to his desk.
According to Skaisgirytė, however, the president only meant marriage. “If there were attempts to claim that marriage is not just the alliance of man and woman, that would probably be a breach of the constitution,” she said.
The president's adviser said that “the president says there should be legal regulation for same-sex couple households”, but his office does not have a position on any concrete proposals.
The liberal Freedom Party is drafting a law for gender-neutral partnership, but the bill has yet to be presented in the parliament.
Skaisgirytė also dismissed criticism that the president's message was delivered in the same event that included an address by German MEP Bernhard Zimniok of the far-right AfD party. Among other things, Zimniok is known for his support for the Kremlin.
Read more: Lithuanian president spoke 'in the company' of pro-Kremlin German politician – MEP
“I would not attach too much importance to one person and his position. Is he the only one in Putin's circle of friends? I'm afraid he is not,” Skaisgirytė said.
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