The conservative state, which is currently one of the few EU members that does not allow marriage or civil partnerships for same-sex couples, is considering changing the constitutional definition of marriage to specify it as a union between a man and a woman. Supporters of this proposal, including the Orthodox Church and nearly all parliamentary parties, believe this change is necessary to prevent gay couples from being able to marry in the future. However, many human rights groups are urging people to boycott the ballot, warning that approving this change could lead to further erosion of minority rights and a shift towards a populist, authoritarian government in Romania. A recent poll indicated a 34 percent turnout, with 90 percent in favor of the change, surpassing the required 30 percent threshold. The Coalition for the Family, a group that collected 3 million signatures in support of the change, is leading the effort. Last year, the lower house of parliament voted in favor of the referendum, with the senate following in September to complete the necessary stages. Campaign posters from the Coalition encouraged a "Yes" vote to protect family values and prevent gay couples from adopting children, while another ad warned that a "No" vote could lead to a man marrying a tree. The leader of the ruling Social Democrat Party expressed concerns about legalizing marriage between a man and an animal, citing examples from other countries. In the days leading up to the vote, the government loosened anti-fraud monitoring and restricted challenges to the result, while the broadcasting regulator removed the deadline for campaigning. The independent think tank Expert Forum (EFOR) stated that there are no effective methods to verify fraud in the referendum, leading to a lack of trust in the fairness of the process. Some believe the ruling party is using the vote to distract from its leader's legal issues and conflicts with the European Commission. Former Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos accused the government of trying to create anti-European sentiment. The government denies these claims, while the Orthodox Church has stated that a "Yes" vote would be in line with Christian, democratic, and patriotic values. Romania decriminalized homosexuality in 2001, much later than neighboring countries, and LGBT discrimination remains prevalent. Photo title: Romania 1+2
Description 1: Roman Catholic priests participate in a demonstration in favor of a "Yes" vote on the upcoming referendum, which suggests amendments to the constitution to prohibit the recognition of same-sex marriages in the future, in Draganesti, Romania, on October 4, 2018. REUTERS.