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Poll shows growing support for same-sex marriage in Poland

25.04.2024 15:00
A significant majority of Poles are in favor of granting same-sex couples the right to enter into civil partnerships, with a substantial number also supporting the right to marry, according to a recent survey.
Photo:
Photo:PAP/Tomasz Gzell

However, the nation remains divided on the issue of adoption rights for gay and lesbian couples.

The poll, conducted by United Surveys for private broadcaster RMF FM and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily, reveals that 66 percent of Poles support civil partnerships for same-sex couples, and 50 percent believe such couples should have the right to marry.

Meanwhile, 63 percent of respondents oppose adoption rights for same-sex couples, the survey found.

The results indicate a significant division in opinions between different political affiliations.

Supporters of the liberal ruling camp, which includes the KO, Third Way, and The Left, overwhelmingly support both civil partnerships and marriage rights, with 97 percent and 86 percent in favor respectively.

On the other hand, 67 percent of conservative opposition voters, primarily those supporting the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) and the far-right Confederation group, oppose civil partnerships, and 90 percent are against same-sex marriage.

The survey, which sampled 1,000 respondents between April 19 and 21, also touched on the contentious issue of adoption rights, where only 22 percent of all respondents supported the right for same-sex couples to adopt, with 63 percent opposing.

Political lines were distinctly drawn here as well, with 93 percent of opposition supporters and 65 percent of undecided voters against the idea.

This public sentiment comes against the backdrop of a recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, which in December found Poland in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights for not providing legal protection to same-sex couples.

The court's decision mandates Poland to rectify the lack of legal recognition for same-sex relationships.

Currently, Poland is one of five EU member states that do not allow same-sex couples to formalize their relationships, a group that also includes Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania and Slovakia.

(jh/gs)

Source: RMF24