Bratislava, September 26, 2025 – In a move that has sparked outrage at home and abroad, Slovakia’s National Council narrowly passed a constitutional amendment that redefines gender, reshapes adoption laws, and places “national identity” above certain European Union standards. The amendment passed with exactly 90 votes, the minimum required for constitutional changes in the 150-seat parliament.
What the Amendment Says
The amendment, strongly backed by Prime Minister Robert Fico and his governing coalition, enshrines the definition of gender as strictly male or female. This change effectively excludes transgender and intersex individuals from legal recognition, making it impossible for them to update official documents or be acknowledged under Slovak law.
It also restricts adoption rights exclusively to married heterosexual couples. Under the new framework, LGBTQ+ individuals, same-sex couples, and even single parents will face severe obstacles, closing doors that, while limited, were previously available.
Another controversial provision asserts that Slovak law on issues of “national identity, culture, ethics, and education” has primacy over EU legislation. The amendment also requires schools to align curricula with the “constitutional cultural and ethical values of Slovakia.”
The Political Context
The measure was driven by Fico’s left-nationalist Smer-SD party, with support from its coalition partners, including Peter Pellegrini’s Hlas-SD and the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS) led by Andrej Danko.
During the parliamentary debate, Fico argued that the amendment was necessary to “protect Slovak traditions, values, and sovereignty.” Danko went further, framing the move as a defense against what he called “foreign ideological influence” from Brussels and international NGOs.
Opposition figures, including former president Zuzana Čaputová, condemned the amendment as unconstitutional in spirit and dangerous in practice. Čaputová, who left office earlier this year, has long been a critic of Fico’s government, warning that such steps erode democratic norms and human rights.
Reactions and Backlash
Human rights groups immediately denounced the vote. Slovak LGBTQ+ organizations called it “a dark day” for equality, saying it codifies discrimination at the highest legal level. International observers, including the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, have already expressed alarm, noting that vague concepts like “national identity” can be used to justify almost any restriction on minority rights.
Critics also argue the change puts Slovakia on a collision course with the European Union. By declaring Slovak law supreme in areas tied to values and identity, the amendment could challenge the EU’s legal order and lead to clashes in the European Court of Justice.
A Growing Pattern
This amendment is part of a broader trend under Robert Fico’s government. Since returning to power in late 2023, Fico has pursued legislation curbing NGO funding, tightening control over public media, and seeking to weaken anti-corruption institutions. His critics argue he is following the path of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, centralizing power while targeting minority groups and liberal institutions.
The Road Ahead
While legal challenges to the amendment are expected, reversing constitutional changes is notoriously difficult. For Slovakia’s LGBTQ+ community, the fear is not only about lost rights today, but about the long-term entrenchment of discrimination.
As opposition MP Michal Šimečka, leader of the Progressive Slovakia party, said after the vote:
“This is not about protecting values. It is about writing intolerance into the constitution. And history will not look kindly on those who supported it.”
For now, the amendment stands as one of the most sweeping rollbacks of LGBTQ+ rights in the European Union in recent years, a sign of the shifting political climate in Slovakia under Fico’s leadership.
