Slovakia’s government on Tuesday published a proposal for a constitutional change curbing the rights of homosexual couples and tightening the rules for gender change in the EU member country.
The proposal published on the government website also questions the superiority of EU law over national law.
Nationalist Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is often at odds with the 27-nation bloc, said Slovakia should “build a constitutional barrier against progressivism”.
He added the proposed change was motivated by “traditions and the cultural and spiritual legacy of our ancestors”.
“The Slovak Republic recognises only two sexes — male and female,” reads the proposal.
“Sex can only be changed for serious reasons. Details will be set out in a law,” it adds.
Fico said he drew inspiration from US President Donald Trump, who said last week his government would only recognise two biological sexes.
The proposal also orders schools to “only teach that which is in line with the constitution”.
It restricts child adoptions to married couples, the spouses of a deceased parent or, exceptionally, single people, ruling out adoptions by homosexuals.
The government also wants Slovak law to have priority over EU law when it comes to values, ethics and culture.
Fico, who leads a wobbly three-party coalition in his fourth term as premier, said he expected the proposal to undergo a debate in parliament which will then vote on it.
“We have to restore common sense,” he added.
Martin Macko, head of the Iniciativa Inakost NGO providing help to LGBTQ+ people, said the proposal was Fico’s attempt to divert attention from his government’s problems.
Fico is facing nationwide protests following his recent visit to Moscow owing to Russia’s invasion of Slovakia’s eastern neighbour Ukraine.
Macko added the proposal “excludes Slovakia from the EU” and harms the Slovak LGBTQ+ community by introducing “new obstacles”.
Slovakia’s constitution already defines marriage as a union between man and woman, following an amendment from 2014 when Fico was also prime minister.
Slovakia’s culture minister has recently announced she will curb funding for organisations related to the LGBTQ+ movement.
Fico is following in the footsteps of Viktor Orban, the premier of neighbouring Hungary, who is also battling all things progressive claiming he is defending Christian values.
Most eastern European countries prohibit same-sex marriages.