On Thursday, the 2nd of November, the Saeima conceptually decided to support the legislative draft proposed by Minister of Justice Inese Lībiņa-Egnere that is intended to introduce a new law institute in Latvia – partnership.
All eight related legislative drafts were granted urgency in order to view them in two readings. The parliament may decide on them on the 9th of November.
Amendments to the Law on the Register of Natural Persons state that information about the foundation and termination of partnership are to be added to the Register of Natural Persons. The package of legislative drafts states that by appearing in person at a sworn notary’s, a partnership may be entered into by two persons of legal age who share a close, personal relationship and there are no restrictions on its conclusion, for example, blood relation. Officials have also developed related amendments to the Insolvency Law and Law on Personal Income Tax, Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials, Law on State Pensions, Law on State Social Insurance and Patient Rights Law that will provide certain economic and social support measures.
Previously, during a meeting of Saeima’s Legal Affairs Committee deputy Gundars Daudze asked if amendments could apply to, for example, two women of pension age that live in the same apartment to “make ends meet” due to their limited financial options.
Daudze mentioned that he understands that these two pensioners would be able to sign a partnership contract to protect their interests.
Ministry of Justice parliamentary secretary Lauma Paegļkalna confirms that partnership will be allowed to be signed by two people in a close relationship who have confirmed their intention to take care of each other and live in a single household.
The committee’s chairman Andrejs Judins said often the topic of partnership is too sexualised. He added that establishment of partnership does not have to be related to intimate relationship.
The ministry explains that amendments were submitted in order to comply with the ruling of the Constitutional Court. Partnership will be a new way to legally establish the relationship between two persons of legal age and provide them with certain types of social and economic protection.
These law amendments should help provide a way for same-sex couples legalise their relationship.
Lībiņa-Egnere says the Constitutional Court has admitted that the Constitution requires ensuring legal, economic and social protection of close, personal relations between two people. In order to implement the Constitutional Court’s ruling, a legislative draft was prepared to introduce a partnership institute. Partnership will provide persons will separate rights and duties in relations with the state, making partners’ cohabitation easier.
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