The Slovakian parliament is likely to pass a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a man and a woman, after the ruling Social Democratic party (Smer) agreed to support the move in parliament.
A constitutional amendment can be passed by parliament if it has the support of 75 percent or more of parliamentarians.
According to i24 News, Prime Minister Robert Fico said that his party would support the amendment put forward by two MPs from the Christian Democratic Party (SDKU). “Smer is willing to support the amendment in exchange for the opposition’s support for an amendment introducing changes in the judicial system,” Fico told reporters in Bratislava.
“The marriage amendment will not bring about any drastic changes, it only seals in the constitution what is already defined by law,” said Fico. Slovakia currently has no provision for civil unions or other legal recognition of same-sex relationships. Smer is a member of the Party of European Socialists (PES) group in the European Parliament, which supports same-sex marriage.
The marriage amendment has become a key issue in Slovakia’s upcoming Presidential Election, in which Fico is a candidate. A recent opinion poll showed a strong majority in favour of the amendment. Eighty percent of Slovak voters agree with the move.
The Slovakian Parliament will begin debating the measure on March 18.