The Slovenian Parliament adopted an amendment on Tuesday, October 4 authorizing the marriage of same-sex couples and adoption, after a judgment by the Constitutional Court, making this country the first in Eastern Europe to legislate in this direction. The amendment to family law was voted by 48 deputies, 29 parliamentarians voted against and one abstained.
Slovenia, which emerged from the break-up of Yugoslavia, is the first formerly communist country to ratify this reform in Europe, most of its neighbors not allowing civil unions or same-sex marriages. In Hungary, discussing homosexuality in front of minors has even been punishable by a fine since the summer of 2021.
Criticized by the opposition
In July, the highest court ruled that the law defining marriage as the only union of a man and a woman discriminated against gay and lesbian couples. It suspended the contested articles with immediate effect and ordered Parliament to amend the text within six months.
“With these changes, we are recognizing rights for same-sex couples that they should have had for a long time.“, declared the secretary of State Simon Maljevac in front of the deputies, during the presentation of the amendment. The main opposition party, the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), criticized the Court’s decision and organized several rallies of opponents.
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“The best of fathers will never replace a mother and vice versa», stated the president of the SDS parliamentary group, Alenka Jeraj, at the opening of the debates. A member of the European Union (EU) since 2004, this Alpine state of two million inhabitants joins 17 countries on the continent that have already legalized marriage for all.
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