Vilnius - The European Union's Financial Planning and Budgets Commissioner, Dalia Grybauskaite, who will be a candidate in Lithuania's May presidential election, denied Friday that she is a closet lesbian.

Taking part in an online question-and-answer session on a popular Lithuanian website, Grybauskaite was asked "The press covered a story a few years ago saying you are in a relationship with another woman... As a voter, I would like to know what your sexual orientation is."

Her answer was direct: "If you're asking whether I am a lesbian, then no, I am not."

Lithuania, like neighbouring Poland, is a staunchly Catholic country where homosexuality is often frowned upon. Rumours regarding Grybauskaite's sexuality have been circulating in the country for years, if only because at 52 years old she is unmarried and childless.

The authorities in capital, Vilnius, have in the past refused permission for an EU-backed "diversity bus" encouraging tolerant attitudes towards non-conventional lifestyles to park on municipal land.

When in 2007 a local gay rights group paid for posters to be put on public transport vehicles with slogans such as "Lesbians can work in schools" and "Gay men can be honest," drivers refused to drive the vehicles.

Grybauskaite confirmed Thursday that she will be a candidate in May's presidential election to be held in her homeland.

Most commentators agree that she will be the clear front runner and have predicted that she could secure sufficient backing to make a second run-off election unnecessary. The removal of any remaining doubt regarding her sexual orientation is likely to increase her lead even further. (dpa)