Civil union in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic grants unregistered cohabitation status to "persons living in a common household" that gives couples inheritance and succession rights in housing, and also offers registered partnerships for same-sex couples. Registered partnerships grant several rights of marriage, including, inheritance, hospital, spousal privilege, and alimony rights, but do not allow adoption, widow's pension, or joint property rights. The registered partnership law was passed in March 2006 and went into effect on July 1, 2006. [ [http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2006/07/12/nearly-weds.php The Prague Post Online: News: Nearly weds ] ]

An amendment to grant greater rights to registered partners was passed in June 2008, making registered partners closer to married couples. [ [http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/3/article_6128.php Czech Republic: 2 anti-gay rallies banned] , [http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=320027 Czech amendment to registered partnership law takes effect] ]

History

There had been several attempts to allow same-sex civil partnerships. In 1995, the government put forth a bill to update the civil code on family law to allow Danish-style registered partnerships, but the bill died by the end of the year. In 1997, a similar bill reached the chamber, but failed by two votes. In 1999, the chamber voted against another bill.

On 11 February, 2005, another bill failed by one vote. It was backed by 82 out of the 165 deputies present - most voting Social Democrats, Communists, the Freedom Union members and some deputies for the opposition Civic Democratic Party (ODS).

In April 2005, a new partnership bill passed its first reading in the chamber with 82 votes for and 9 against. On 16 December 2005, it passed its third reading with 86 votes for, 54 against, and 7 MPs not voting. On 26 January 2006, it was passed by the Senate (65 for, 14 against).

On February 16, 2006, President Václav Klaus vetoed the bill. In response, the Prime Minister Jiří Paroubek said that he would seek a parliamentary majority (101 votes) in the lower chamber to override the veto and did so successfully on March 15, 2006 with the exact number of votes needed (101) out of 177 votes casted. The bill became one of topics where political parties tried to position themselves before the June election. Opinion polls suggest that over 60 percent of Czechs support same-sex marriage or civil unions.

See also

* Gay rights in the Czech Republic

References

External links

* [http://www.praguepost.com/P03/2005/Art/0915/news4.php Gay partnership law likely]
* [http://www.365gay.com/Newscon05/12/121605czech.htm Czech Republic, Austria Move To Legalize Gay Unions]
* [http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/01/012606czech.htm Bill passes Senate]
* [http://365gay.com/Newscon06/02/021606czech.htm Czech President Vetoes Gay Partner Bill]
* [http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/03/031506czech.htm Czech Parliament Overrides Veto, Passes Gay Partner Law]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4811030.stm Czech MPs approve gay rights law]
* [http://www.radio.cz/en/article/76898 Same-sex registered partnerships to be introduced after deputies override presidential veto]
* [http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=197374 First homosexual couples strike registered partnership]
* [http://gay.iniciativa.cz/www/index.php/?page=clanek&id=1534 582 same-sex couples registered partnerships within 2 years]