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In a contentious vote, Poland’s Sejm, the country’s lower house of Parliament, has approved a bill aiming to legalise civil partnerships for unmarried couples. Although the legislation is seen as a step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in Poland, the move has been met with an unexpected response from the country’s president, who has signalled his intention to veto the bill.
On Friday, 230 lawmakers from the Centre Party-supported government voted in favour of the legislation, while 198 opposition members voted against it. The approval of the bill marks a significant development in the long-standing push for greater recognition of same-sex relationships in Poland.
The bill, co-authored by the government’s equality minister, Katarzyna Kotula, seeks to grant couples who enter into a civil partnership the same rights and privileges as married couples. This includes shared property arrangements, maintenance obligations, joint access to a home, and the ability to act as each other’s medical proxy.
According to an article by Polskie Radio, the proposed rules would require two adults to sign a notarised agreement, which would then be registered with a civil registry office. Although the legislation does not go as far as granting same-sex couples the right to marry, it is seen as an important step in acknowledging the legitimacy of relationships outside traditional marriage.
Minister Kotula has hailed the vote as a significant victory for thousands of Poles living in unmarried relationships. She expressed her gratitude to those who worked tirelessly to bring about this reform, saying: “For several months, many people worked on this project so that more than three million Poles could feel more dignity and security – both heterosexual families and, above all, LGBT couples who pay taxes but are still invisible to the state.”
However, President Karol Nawrocki’s recent statement has cast a shadow over the proceedings. In an apparent contradiction to the Centre Party’s stance on the issue, Nazawrocki expressed his intention to veto the bill, leaving the future of the legislation uncertain.
The development serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in Poland, where conservative forces continue to assert their influence over the country’s politics. While the bill is seen as a significant improvement for many same-sex couples, its approval remains conditional on the President’s decision.
As Poland navigates this complex issue, the actions of its institutions will undoubtedly send signals to the rest of Europe and the world regarding its stance on LGBTQ+ rights. For now, the fate of the civil partnership legislation hangs precariously in the balance, awaiting the decision of President Nawrocki.