RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The “family” referendum

Senate approves citizens initiative to redefine family in Constitution as marriage between a man and a woman.

The “family” referendum
The “family” referendum

, 12.09.2018, 12:21

The Romanian Senate on Tuesday passed with a large majority a bill
to revise the Constitution in order to redefine family as the marriage
between a man and a woman rather than that between spouses, as it is defined at
the moment. The Chamber of Deputies also passed the bill last May. This
citizens’ initiative belongs to a big coalition of Christian organisations and
associations enthusiastically supported by the Orthodox Church, a coalition
that did not hide its intention to seek a change of the definition of family
in the Constitution in order to block any possibility of legalising same-sex
marriage. The initiative must now also be put through a referendum, something
that will take place in October.




The debates in Parliament have once again showed Romania as a place
of paradoxes. Invoking the country’s 2,000-year-old Christian tradition and the
idea that homosexuality is a sin, the Social Democratic Party, which presumably
belongs to an ideological family that is sensitive to the rights of the
minorities and which supports tolerance and inclusion, voted in favour of the
referendum. So did their allies, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, which,
again, in theory, should support civil rights and liberties. The great Liberal
Party in opposition also voted in favour, with the exception of a few senators,
who abstained. The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, which has
no ideological platform, were also in favour. The only party to stand against
the referendum was the Save Romania Union, which has warned that this is a
futile referendum that will do nothing to improve people’s lives but which may
divide society.




A small protest against the redefinition of family in the
Constitution was held in the centre of Bucharest. The representatives of ACCEPT
Association, which protects the rights of sexual minorities, have said that through
its Tuesday vote, the Senate raises homophobia to the level of state value and
sacrifices constitutional protections for many families in Romania. They say
the vote is a violation of the right to private and family life, which is an inalienable right thatbelongs to all persons, irrespective of gender and sexual
orientation under the European Human Rights Convention. This is a serious
warning.




Recently, the screening in a Bucharest cinema of an award-winning
film about the struggle of sexual minorities in France in the 1980s was disrupted
by a group of Orthodox fundamentalists who aggressively expressed their
homophobia. The debate that will precede the referendum will show whether
Romanian society is capable to change and modernise without abandoning its
traditions, which are invoked excessively for manipulation and propaganda
purposes. This is also a test for Romanian politicians, which they are about to
fail, however. The Senate vote has clearly showed that ideological confusion,
the attempt to confiscate sensitive issues and use them for populist and
election purposes and collision with stated values and principles have become
the norm.

Maia Sandu (Photo: presedinte.md)
Today in the News Friday, 27 December 2024

Maia Sandu begins second term as president

Maia Sandu has begun her second mandate as president of the Republic of Moldova, which she obtained following the autumn election. Sandu was sworn in...

Maia Sandu begins second term as president
The Ciolacu was sworn in / Photo: presidency.ro
Today in the News Tuesday, 24 December 2024

Romania has a new Government

The new Government in Bucharest was voted in by the Parliament.   The new Government of Romania, led by the Social Democrat Marcel Ciolacu, took...

Romania has a new Government
Timişoara, 35 years ago (Photo: Costantin Duma)
Today in the News Monday, 23 December 2024

35 years since the anti-Communist Revolution in Romania

35 years have passed since Timişoara became the first city free from communism in Romania, a moment that triggered a wave of protests which would...

35 years since the anti-Communist Revolution in Romania
Foto: PIX1861 / pixabay.com
Today in the News Friday, 20 December 2024

Economic effects of political instability

The deadlock related to the establishment of a parliamentary majority to propose a prime minister and, therefore, the impossibility of forming a new...

Economic effects of political instability
Today in the News Friday, 20 December 2024

Conclusions of the Winter European Summit

The EU heads of state and government gathered in Brussels to discuss the war in Ukraine, migration, the situation in the Middle East, the Republic of...

Conclusions of the Winter European Summit
Today in the News Thursday, 19 December 2024

The EU and the exposure to disinformation

Attending the EU-Western Balkans summit and the European Council in Brussels, the Romanian president Klaus Iohannis said Romania was confronted with...

The EU and the exposure to disinformation
Today in the News Thursday, 19 December 2024

Fitch revises Romania’s outlook to negative

Fitch Ratings has revised Romania’s outlook to negative, citing political instability and budget deficit.     Fitch Ratings has...

Fitch revises Romania’s outlook to negative
Today in the News Wednesday, 18 December 2024

A new Forestry Code

The new Forestry Code, a milestone in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, was adopted by the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest as the...

A new Forestry Code

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company