Bill on Legalizing Marriage for Same Sex Couples Approved in First Reading

The Czech Chamber of Deputies made a significant step towards legalizing same-sex marriage by approving an amendment to the Civil Code in its initial reading.

Despite facing opposition, the draft amendment successfully withstood proposals to reject it and undergo further revision, paving the way for further evaluation.

The draft will now be submitted to the members of the Constitutional Law Committee for consideration. It will have four months to review the draft instead of the usual two.

In addition to the proposed amendment to the Civil Code, another group of lawmakers presented a proposal to amend the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, a component of the Czech constitution, in order to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman. This proposal also passed its first reading.

During the vote, out of the 141 attending MPs, 58 favored rejecting the same-sex marriage proposal, while 68 voted against it. Similarly, 60 MPs out of the 139 present voted to dismiss the constitutional amendment, while 64 voted against it. Both proposals will now advance to a second reading.

If the amendment to the Civil Code is implemented, same-sex couples will gain the same marriage rights as opposite-sex couples, including joint property ownership, eligibility for widow’s and widower’s pensions, and rights and responsibilities regarding the children they raise. Registered partnerships, currently available to same-sex couples, will be replaced and rendered obsolete.

Notably, the far-right opposition party Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) was the only group whose members unanimously voted to reject the same-sex marriage proposal. Conversely, the parliamentary groups of Mayors and Independents (STAN), Pirates, and TOP 09 showed unanimous support for the proposal.

Regarding the constitutional definition of marriage, all MPs from the Pirates, STAN, and TOP 09 favored its rejection. However, some MPs who opposed the definition still voted in favor of further discussing the bill.

Ales Dufek, leader of the KDU-CSL group, argued that the traditional legal establishment of marriage as the union between a man and a woman dates back to ancient times. He stated, “This unique tradition of the legal institution of marriage ensures that the perception and definition of marriage as a lasting union between one woman and one man remains deeply rooted socially and legally, despite recent tendencies.”

The Speaker of the lower house, Marketa Pekarova Adamova, mentioned the possibility of reaching a compromise that considers parental rights and the use of the term ‘marriage,’ which has been a focal point of criticism from opponents of same-sex marriage.