The nationalist Prime Minister Robert Fico has since he came to power in 2023 been involved in several conflicts with other EU countries. On Wednesday, the Council of Europe's highest human rights body warned against the new legislative amendment in Slovakia.
"There are two sexes, male and female, established at birth", the proposal states, as well as that "Sex cannot be changed except for serious reasons, according to procedures to be established by law”.
Slovakia's constitution already defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, after an amendment in 2014 when Fico was also Prime Minister.
Michal Simecka, leader of the opposition party Progressive Slovakia, called the decision "shameful" and meant that it "harms Slovakia's population and questions the country's place in the EU and its legal framework".
The new text also states that Slovakia's "sovereignty" in "cultural and ethical issues" shall take precedence over EU law.
