Lithuanian PM: legal recognition of same-sex partnerships is inevitable

Legal recognition of same-sex partnerships in Lithuania is unavoidable, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė stated Thursday, despite ongoing disputes over which institution should register such unions.

Speaking to Žinių Radijas, Šimonytė acknowledged that while the government has debated procedural details—such as which body would handle registrations—the Constitutional Court’s ruling leaves no alternative but to amend the law.

“After reviewing these matters, the court will undoubtedly confirm that we must move toward a new system,” she said. “It seems these checks will end at the same conclusion. I believe change is inevitable.”

Šimonytė reiterated her position that the Constitutional Court’s decision must be implemented, emphasising that aligning legislation with the ruling would not pose significant difficulties.

The court ruled in April that Lithuania’s failure to recognise same-sex partnerships violates the constitution, striking down a Civil Code provision restricting partnerships to opposite-sex couples. While the code establishes a cohabitation framework, a dedicated partnership law—required for over 20 years—has never been adopted. The court deemed this omission “intolerable and discriminatory.”

Government launches family and birth rate study
The prime minister also addressed a newly launched international study on fertility and family dynamics, aimed at identifying effective measures to counter Lithuania’s deepening demographic crisis.

“We speculate too much—some argue for higher child benefits, others for housing affordability, values education, or workplace flexibility,” she noted. “This research will pinpoint where focus is most needed.”

With birth rates at “catastrophic” levels, Šimonytė stressed that modern families prioritise broad security—economic, social, and physical—alongside respect for parenthood. The Strategic Analysis Centre (STRATA) will collect data on family formation, child-rearing, partnerships, intergenerational relations, and work-life balance to inform policy.

EU statistics project Lithuania’s birth rate will continue declining through 2035.