Slovak PM Fico calls for constitutional amendment to protect cultural principles from Brussels’ sphere of influence

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has proposed a constitutional amendment to officially recognize only two genders, regulate LGBT education content, and assert Slovakia's sovereignty over cultural issues

FILE - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico arrives for an EU summit, at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on Oct. 27, 2023. (Credit: Shutterstock)
By Thomas Brooke
4 Min Read

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced on Monday plans to introduce a constitutional amendment that would formally recognize only two genders in Slovakia in addition to other cultural principles designed to protect the country from Brussels’ liberal encroachment.

Speaking at a press conference, Fico argued that Slovakia must assert its sovereignty on cultural issues and resist what he described as the growing influence of “progressive ideologies.”

“We live in times when people change their positions in their gender identity almost in no time,” Fico stated. “The heritage that the country has been retaining for centuries must be constitutional.” He explained that under his proposal, gender changes would only be permitted in exceptional, justified cases. “Not just because someone gets up in the morning and feels that today they won’t be a man, but a woman or vice versa,” he added.

Fico’s amendment would also have implications for Slovakia’s legal stance within the European Union. He emphasized that domestic laws should take precedence over international agreements that conflict with national policies. “Imagine a new pact on human rights, which states that marriage can be created between men and men and women and women. Okay, they can accept such a pact, but on the basis of what we suggest, it could not take priority over our laws and our constitution,” he said.

The proposal extends beyond gender recognition, also targeting education policies. Fico argued that schools should only be allowed to teach content that aligns with the constitution, with any alternative perspectives requiring explicit parental approval.

“We know that in the afternoon, somebody comes to give a lecture to the children, where they say something different from the constitution,” he said. “Let us give space to other views, but only if parents agree,” he added, citing legislation adopted in Hungary that prohibited the teaching of LGBT issues to school children.

Additionally, Fico’s amendment would further restrict adoption rights, limiting them to traditional heterosexual couples. “This affects members of a family in the traditional sense,” he asserted. Slovakia’s constitution currently recognizes marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman, and this proposal would effectively eliminate the possibility of same-sex couples adopting children.

Alongside these measures, Fico stated his commitment to addressing gender wage disparities, saying, “Everyone gets the same amount of money for the same job.”

The prime minister acknowledged that his proposal would require broader political support to pass. A constitutional amendment in Slovakia needs at least 90 votes in parliament, exceeding the simple majority threshold of 76. With divisions within his own coalition and opposition parties unlikely to back the measure, Fico has turned to the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) for potential support. “At the same time, I have already discussed the possible constitutional amendment with the KDH,” he revealed. The KDH holds 11 seats in parliament, which, even with their support, would not be enough to secure the necessary votes.

Fico said he intends to submit the legislation by March but acknowledged that debates may push the timeline further. “If a longer debate is needed, I would not be reluctant to add it to the agenda later, in April or May,” he said.

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