Amid proposals to vote on the civil partnership bill this spring, the biggest parliamentary groups say they have not decided on a common position.
Three opposition MPs of the conservative Homeland Union (TS-LKD) party are proposing to include the bill on civil partnership in the parliament’s spring session agenda.
Matas Maldeikis, Jurgita Sejonienė, and Arūnas Valinskas announced it on their Facebook on Tuesday.
The bill, which would allow both same-sex and opposite-sex couples to register civil partnership, was drafted by the previous parliament and passed the first vote by a slim margin. It is one vote short of being passed, but has so far not had majority support.
Remigijus Motuzas, the elder of the Social Democratic group, the biggest in the parliament, says his group has not yet agreed how to vote on the civil partnership bill.
He also notes that, in their manifesto, the Social Democrats have promised to “resolve the issue of the Civil Union Law” during this term of office. Previously, the Social Democratic vote was split.
Mindaugas Lingė, the elder of the TS-LKD group, says his party is also split and it is not clear how many conservative MPs would support civil unions.
Laurynas Kasčiūnas, the newly elected leader of the TS-LKD party, has told BNS that he would not change his position on the bill and would vote against it.
Social Democrat Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said last November that he would vote in favour of the partnership bill if it were put on the agenda.
Meanwhile, MP Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of the Nemunas Dawn party, says his party’s MPs would not support the current bill because it treats same-sex unions almost like marriage. He would only support a law on “household contract” that would give certain legal rights to partners but would not treat them as spouses.
A similar project was proposed by conservative politician Paulius Saudargas in the last legislative term.
Parliament Speaker Saulius Skvernelis says he sees no prospect for the civil partnership bill to be put on the vote in the coming session.
In Lithuania, civil partnership does not exist either for same-sex or opposite-sex couples.
The spring session of the parliament, Seimas, will start on March 10.
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