Slovakia adopts a law to recognize only two sexes and to limit the adoption

Slovakia changed its constitution, bringing legal recognition of only two sexes – male and female.

The legal change, which has voted on a knife in parliament, also limits the adoption of married heterosexual couples and prohibits surrogate pregnancies.

The amendment of the Constitution was defined as an attachment of “sovereignty in cultural and ethical issues”.

Critics, including Amnesty International, have warned that change will make life more difficult for LGBT people, saying that it is approaching the country’s legal system to Hungary or Russia’s non -liberal government.

Supporting the amendment parliament came as a surprise to observers, with even the prime minister acknowledged on Thursday that he might not go.

The government of Fico-Coalition of populist, left and nationalist parties needed at least 90 votes in the National Council of the Slovak National Council to 150 seats to change the constitution, but in fact controls only 78 seats.

In the end, however, 12 opposition MPs voted for the government. The conservative opposition Christian Democrats has long been expected to support, but several members of the movement of former Prime Minister Igor Matovic have added their voices at the last moment, directing the rock.

Matovic described them as traitors.

The populist-nationalist government claims that the amendment is necessary to protect what it has defined as “traditional values”.

Prime Minister Robert Fiko praised the vote and said his party would have a shot of alcohol to celebrate their success. “It’s not a small dam or just a regular dam – it’s a big dam against progressiveness,” he said.

Previously, he claims that what he called a liberal ideology was “spread like cancer.”

Slovak legal scientists say that the amendment of the Constitution, which is reinforced by the Slovak Constitution over the EU law, is a direct challenge for the European Union and will lead to legal battles and potential sanctions.

Some say this move is just a fico bet to distract from the declining poll and unpopular policies.

“The Slovak Constitution fell victim to Robert Fiko’s plan to dismantle the opposition and divert attention from the real problems of society, as well as from the strict savings measures that had to go,” said Bita Balagova, editor -in -chief of Slovak daily SMEs, before the BBC.

“Fico is not really interested in gender issues, the ban on surrogate maternity, or even the adoption by LGBTQ people,” she added.

Most opposition MPs were far from parliament and the progressive Slovakia, which led the ballot box, said the betrayal was marked by the end of every potential cooperation with Matovic and his party.

President Peter Pellegrini said he would sign the amendment.

“In times of huge division in Slovak society, the constitutional majority is an important signal that there is an agreement on a specific issue throughout the political spectrum and it must be respected,” he said after the vote.

The Robert Fico Democracy Party has now deviated so far from the progressive values ​​made by the European central mainstream that it announces that it will be officially expelled from the European Socialist Party (PES) at a conference next month.

Smer was stopped in 2023 after forming a coalition with the far -right Slovak national party.

Since then, Fico has angered European allies by meeting Russian Vladimir Putin four times in less than 12 months.

SMER did not comment on the reports.