Slovak Gays Still Unable to Marry After Referendum Fails to Engage Public

Member of the referendum's central commission Martin Poliacik stated that Slovak nationwide referendum on gay marriages and child adoptions that took place on Saturday did not produce a legally binding result as it attracted less than 50 percent of voters required.

PRAGUE, (Sputnik) – Slovak nationwide referendum on gay marriages and child adoptions that took place on Saturday did not produce a legally binding result as it attracted less than 50 percent of voters required, member of the referendum's central commission Martin Poliacik said Sunday.

“Unfortunately, our commission was urged to declare the referendum on family non-legally binding due to low voter turnout,” Poliacik told reporters, adding that only around 21 percent of Slovaks voted.

On Saturday, Slovaks were asked to answer three of the following questions, whether marriage can only be a union between a man and a woman, whether gay couples should not be allowed to adopt children, and whether children can skip classes focusing on sex education and euthanasia.

Earlier, Slovak President Andrej Kiska said that he, being a conservative person, would say “yes” in response to the first two referendum questions.

Currently, same-sex partners are not allowed to live in registered partnerships in Slovakia. The country’s constitution stipulates that marriage is a partnership between a man and a woman.

Final results of the referendum are expected to be announced later on Sunday.