Lithuanian president stands up for Hungary in row over controversial LGBTQ law

VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stood up for Hungary amid fierce criticism from some other EU leaders of the country's controversial law banning showing content about LGBTQ issues to children.

"Today's discussion [...] deviated from the subject at times, and, to tell the truth, some colleagues tried to comment [on the Hungarian law] without even having familiarized themselves with the text," Nauseda said after the European Council's meeting early on Friday. "I don't think this is right". 

"First of all, we should look at what Hungary is seeking to do, what it has done and only then take on the role of a judge," he said. "It was really premature to do that today." 

Before the European Council's meeting, 17 EU leaders signed a letter deploring "threats against fundamental rights and in particular the principle of non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation."  

Nauseda refused to sign the letter, saying that "problems aren't solved by letters".

Earlier this week, many of these countries voiced their "grave concern" at Hungary's new law. Deputy Foreign Minister Arnoldas Pranckevicius signed the joint letter on behalf of Lithuania.