Two adults will have the opportunity to legally register their relationship by turning to a notary and entering into a partnership. This is provided by amendments to multiple laws that were adopted by the Saeima in the final reading on Thursday, the 9th of November, as confirmed by the parliament’s press-service.
The opposition is hoping to organise a referendum.
Changes in the law provide that the partnership will be allowed to be established starting from the 1st of July next year, and these amendments will ensure the legal and social protection of these persons, according to a media release.
At the same time, it is stated in the law that partnership is not equal to marriage.
The approval process was accompanied by wide debates: the opposition stood against partnership, comparing it to one step forward for same-sex marriage. Regardless, all legislative drafts necessary for this were passed with a confident advantage in votes (50 to 53).
After the vote, the Combined List political party released a statement, reporting that 34 Saeima deputies invite the State President to no promulgate amendments to the Notariate Law [which are the foundation for the adoption of partnership], calling them “hastily put together laws” and instead submit them to a referendum. These Saeima deputies believe the newly-created partnership institute creates an artificial and unnecessary alternative to the practice of marriage between a man and a woman as provided by the Constitution.
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“Our Constitution guarantees all people rights, protection and does not allow discrimination of people. Three years ago the Constitutional Court decided there is a group of people that is being discriminated against – there are people who live in partnership but their rights are not respected.
If partnership basically exists, we cannot ignore this.
It is important to ensure all people are protected in our country and so that the state can help theses people if such a need arises,” said the chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee Andrejs Judins.
When starting a shared life or establishing a shared household, two adult persons may form close personal relationships, which are based on mutual responsibility, care for each other, loyalty, understanding and respect, the authors of the draft law state, emphasizing that the Constitution requires legal, economic and social protection of these relationships.
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