KDH: Applications to Register Same-Sex Marriages Should Be Rejected

Bratislava, 23 July (TASR) - The opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) agree with the position of the Prosecutor-General's (PG) Office that the authorities mustn't remain idle and that requests for information on how to proceed with the registration of same-sex marriages concluded abroad must be duly processed, KDH's communications department has informed TASR. However, KDH stressed that such requests must be decided in line with the Slovak Constitution and EU law, which in practice means that they must be rejected. KDH leader and MP Milan Majersky claims that the current legal situation on the issue is unambiguous and that state authorities must respect it. "The Slovak Constitution, partly thanks to KDH's persistent political efforts, clearly stipulates that marriage is a unique union between a man and a woman. Slovak law contains no legal basis that would allow for the registration of a marriage between two people of the same sex concluded abroad. As an opposition party, we strongly insist on respect for the Constitution and maintaining the status quo," stressed Majersky. KDH is therefore calling on Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) to take immediate action on the matter and to ensure that the authorities proceed in line with the law and reject such applications. The Christian Democrats pointed out that even a ruling of the Court of Justice of the EU from November of last year didn't establish same-sex marriage in member states. According to KDH, the Court of Justice cannot, through its case law, replace a democratic decision by the Slovak Parliament on issues of family law, nor can it create legislation that Slovakia hasn't adopted. "The regulation of marriage and family law falls exclusively within the powers of EU-member states. The European Union can act only within the limits of the powers conferred on it by member states in the founding treaties," added KDH vice-chair Viliam Karas. ko/df