Romania not ready for recognition of same-sex couples: prime minister

Romanian society is not ready to set up a legal framework that recognises same-sex families in accordance with a recent ruling by the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights, said Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, while expressing hope that society would one day be ready.

Under a recent ruling, Romania must provide the Committee of Ministers with information on measures taken or contemplated in line with the Strasbourg-court”s decision on granting legal status to gay couples by 25 March. This is why Foreign Minister Luminița Odobescu has urged the government to communicate its viewpoint on executing the court’s decision.

In an interview with Europa FM radio station, Ciolacu stated, “Romanian society is not ready for a decision at this moment. We will see…”

When asked about promoting civil partnership, Ciolacu replied that he has friends engaged in relationships with individuals of the same gender.

“I am not an obtuse man. I have no reservations. I have friends who are in relationships with other men. I have no problem. But I am speaking now from the point of view of the prime minister”, he added.

He refrained from confirming whether the Romanian government intends to violate the court’s ruling, which mandates Bucharest to set up a legal framework recognising same-sex families.

In response, the Accept Association asserted that “Romania is ready; politicians like you are not ready to truly assume the role of defending the interests of the citizens”.

In its September decision, the ECHR ruled that Romania violated Article 8 of the Convention, which protects family life.

Consequently, Romania is obliged to adopt a legal framework recognising LGBT families in compliance with the binding ECHR decision.

“Romania was also condemned for the treatment in prisons. It’s not one of my priorities, and I don’t think Romania is ready now,” Ciolacu said.

(Cătălina Mihai | Euractiv.ro)

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