„I do not see the resolution of the human rights issue as a divisive issue, but on the contrary, I see it as a de-escalation of societal tensions by granting rights to certain groups that did not have rights in one way or another. No one is harmed, but there is more harmony in society,“ Čmilytė-Nielsen told Elta.
The Liberal also noted that the Social Democrats should be more courageous in making decisions, especially those that guarantee human rights for a particular group in society.
„If Lithuanian politicians had been so cautious in the past, we might not have become members of the European Union and NATO. I wish the social democrats more courage to stick to such social democratic values, which human rights (issues – ELTA) certainly are“, she added.
Regulating relations in other ways is not an option
The politician also says that regulating same-sex couples in other ways than the Civil Union Bill is not the solution.
„This debate is already over 20 years old, and it is certainly not a new argument that there is no need for a Civil Union. Just like same-sex couples, different-sex couples who would be interested in a partnership for one reason or another need a real partnership, not regulation through other laws,“ said Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen.
Armonaitė is not surprised by Paluckas' thoughts on civil unions: he compromises with his conscience
Aušrinė Armonaitė, Minister for Economic Affairs and Innovation, says she is not surprised that, with the Seimas elections approaching and Paluckas targeting the post of Prime Minister, the parliamentarian and the LSDP have changed their minds on the civil union project.
„The position expressed by Gintautas Paluckas in an interview yesterday, unfortunately, did not surprise me. Not because he is a notorious homophobe. On the contrary, he has always been supportive. But now that he is 'taking power', he will be ranked as high as possible,“ the Minister wrote on Facebook on Thursday.
According to Armonaitė, the social democrat's publicly expressed thoughts only testify to the betrayal of left-wing ideas.
„(...) We did not compromise with our conscience, as Paluckas and the LSDP are doing now. The irony is that if the Social Democrats had supported adopting the Civil Union, Paluckas would not have been asked this question on yesterday's programme. And now it will be a rebuke to the betrayed ideas of the left,“ Armonaitė announced.
At the same time, Paluckas said in a TV programme on Wednesday that the same-sex partnership law would not be supported by a majority in this or the next Seimas and that discussing it was not worth annoying the public.
According to the MP, other ways exist to solve the social law problems related to the partnership issue.
„If we are talking about partnership, this proposal essentially addresses certain social rights of persons of the same sex. They can be addressed by other means, but these measures still need to be adopted,“ Paluckas said on LRT's Theme of the Day programme.
ELTA recalls that the Seimas of the current term of office have approved, after reading, the draft law on civil unions initiated by the ruling majority parties. MPs will have to vote again for it to be adopted. However, it is not clear whether the issue will return to the Parliament's agenda.
The draft proposes to regulate the property and personal non-property relations of persons who are not married but have a typical relationship.
