The opposition liberal party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) submitted a proposal to parliament to strengthen LGBT rights after a 19-year-old shot dead two men and seriously injured a woman outside a gay bar in Bratislava last week. However, the proposal was supported by only 50 out of 130 representatives.
According to the submitted proposal, people of the same sex could have established an official relationship with a declaration before the notary, they would have been able to jointly acquire real estate, inherit one after the other, have access to each other's health data, and receive a widow's pension after the death of their partner.
"This amendment would not harm anyone, it would only help. It is surprising that even after the death of two young people, neither the politicians nor the society are able to step over their own shadow. We regret that our parliament consists of such people," said Jana Bittó Cigániková, a member of the SaS.
Some members of the government coalition said that they will formulate their own proposal on this issue.
In contrast to the Czech Republic, same-sex couples cannot enter into a registered partnership in Slovakia.
Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger announced at his press conference on Wednesday evening that he had entrusted Viliam Karas, head of the Ministry of Justice, with the preparation of a government bill aimed at strengthening LGBT rights.
In response to a question about rejecting the draft of the SaS, Heger replied that, as Prime Minister, he would like such legislative changes to be implemented at the initiative of the government.
The prime minister also confirmed that the perpetrator of last Wednesday's attack at a gay bar in Bratislava originally wanted to kill him.
In connection with the case classified as a terrorist act by the Slovak authorities, he stated that he will also raise the issue of terrorism and the regulation of social media content at the EU summit starting on Thursday.
Source: vasarnap.hu
Featured image: Facebook/Duhovy PRIDE Bratislava
