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Recognition of same-sex unions in Latvia

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Latviahas recognisedcivil unionssince 1 July 2024. On 9 November 2023, theSaeimapassed legislation establishing same-sex civil unions conferring similar rights and obligations as marriage with the exception of adoption and inheritance rights. The bill was signed into law byPresidentEdgars Rinkēvičsin January 2024,[1]and took effect on 1 July 2024. This followed a ruling from theConstitutional Court of Latviaon 12 November 2020 that theLatvian Constitutionentitles same-sex couples to receive the same benefits and protections afforded by Latvian law to married opposite-sex couples, and gave the Saeima until 1 June 2022 to enact a law protecting same-sex couples. In December 2021, theSupreme Courtruled that should the Saeima fail to pass civil union legislation before the 1 June 2022 deadline, same-sex couples may apply to a court to have their relationship recognized. The Saeima failed to meet this deadline, and the first same-sex union was recognized by the Administrative District Court on 30 May 2022.

The Constitution of Latvia has prohibited the recognition ofsame-sex marriagesince 2006.

Civil unions

[edit]

Background

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On 23 September 1999, the Latvian National Human Rights Office introduced aregistered partnershipbill to theSaeima.On 28 September 1999, the proposal was sent to the Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee of the Saeima for discussion,[2][3]but it was rejected by the commission on 30 November 1999.[4]In January 2012, the Ombudsman's Office (the renamed National Human Rights Office since 2007) recommended that the Parliament rejected registered partnership legislation.[5]However, afterBaltic Pridein June 2012, it was revealed that theMinistry of Justice,led byGaidis Bērziņš,was considering whether to recognise same-sex partnerships, either asunregistered cohabitationor registered partnerships. Defence MinisterArtis Pabriksexpressed his support for registered partnerships.[6]Mozaika, Latvia's largestLGBTrights organisation, estimated it would take approximately five years to obtain enough political support to pass the bill.[7]

In November 2014, while commenting on thecoming outof the Minister for Foreign Affairs,Edgars Rinkēvičs,and on his call for the recognition of same-sex relationships in Latvia, Prime MinisterLaimdota Straujumareaffirmed her support for the constitutional prohibition on same-sex marriage. She also admitted that "Latvian law has not yet resolved the question of partner-relationships", explaining that the non-recognition of unmarried couples "affects many in Latvia" regardless ofsexual orientationand that protection of such families "needs to be discussed by both the community and the Saeima".[8]On 30 January 2015, Veiko Spolītis, anMPfrom theNew Unityparty, submitted a bill to modify theCivil Codeto legally recognise same-sex partnerships. The proposed law would have allowed "any two persons" to register their partnership and enjoy almost all of the rights and obligations ofmarriage.[9][10]The proposal was rejected by the Legal Affairs Committee of the Saeima on 24 February 2015.[11][12]

On 23 March 2015, the chairperson ofFor Latvia's Development,Juris Pūce,launched a signature collection campaign onManaBalss.lv,calling for the passage of a cohabitation law in Latvia.[13]The signatures were submitted to the Saeima in January 2018. In March 2018, the Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee recommended 5–4 that the initiative be rejected by the Saeima; 5 out of the 9 committee members voted to recommend rejection, while the 4 others wanted further consideration.[14]In October 2018, theombudsmancalled on lawmakers to pass a partnership law for opposite-sex and same-sex couples, citing statistics showing that about half of Latvian children wereborn out of wedlock,and arguing that these families should enjoy legal protection.[15]On 20 June 2019, MPs voted against sending the bill to further discussion and review in parliamentary committees; only 23 members voted for the bill, 60 voted against it and one member abstained. TheDevelopment/For!and New Unity parties and someSocial Democratssupported the bill, while the remaining Social Democrats,Who Owns the State?,theNew Conservative Party,theNational Allianceand theUnion of Greens and Farmersas well as severalindependentswere opposed.[16][17][18][19]Supporters of the bill said they would "persevere" and persuade lawmakers to discuss it again in the future.[20][21]

20 June 2019 vote in the Saeima[22]
Party Voted for Voted against Abstained Absent (Did not vote)
Harmony
6
  • Valērijs Agešins
  • Boriss Cilevičs
  • Vjačeslavs Dombrovskis
  • Regīna Ločmele
  • Evija Papule
  • Igors Pimenovs
11
  • Jānis Ādamsons
  • Inga Goldberga
  • Andrejs Klementjevs
  • Ivans Klementjevs
  • Jānis Krišāns
  • Edgars Kucins
  • Vladimirs Nikonovs
  • Vitālijs Orlovs
  • Ivans Ribakovs
  • Artūrs Rubiks
  • Jānis Tutins
1
  • Nikolajs Kabanovs
4
  • Sergejs Dolgopolovs
  • Ļubova Švecova
  • Jānis Urbanovičs
  • Ivars Zariņš
New Conservative Party -
15
  • Dagmāra Beitnere-Le Galla
  • Uldis Budriķis
  • Jānis Butāns
  • Jānis Cielēns
  • Gatis Eglītis
  • Krišjānis Feldmans
  • Andris Kazinovskis
  • Anita Muižniece
  • Linda Ozola
  • Juris Rancāns
  • Sandis Riekstiņš
  • Juta Strīķe
  • Evita Zālīte-Grosa
  • Reinis Znotiņš
  • Normunds Žunna
-
1
  • Juris Jurašs[a]
Development/For!
11
  • Dace Bluķe
  • Mārtiņš Bondars
  • Marija Golubeva
  • Daniels Pavļuts
  • Artūrs Toms Plešs
  • Dace Rukšāne-Ščipčinska
  • Andris Skride
  • Mārtiņš Staķis
  • Mārtiņš Šteins
  • Vita Anda Tērauda
  • Inese Voika
- -
2
  • Ilmārs Dūrītis
  • Inese Ikstena
National Alliance -
11
  • Jānis Dombrava
  • Raivis Dzintars
  • Jānis Iesalnieks
  • Ilze Indriksone
  • Ritvars Jansons
  • Rihards Kols
  • Janīna Kursīte-Pakule
  • Ināra Mūrniece
  • Romāns Naudiņš
  • Edvīns Šnore
  • Edmunds Teirumnieks
-
1
  • Aleksandrs Kiršteins
Who Owns the State? -
10
  • Iveta Benhena-Bēkena
  • Aivars Geidāns
  • Kaspars Ģirģens
  • Artuss Kaimiņš
  • Ieva Krapāne
  • Janīna Kursīte
  • Ramona Petraviča
  • Ēriks Pucens
  • Ivars Puga
  • Jānis Vitenbergs
-
2
  • Aldis Blumbergs
  • Atis Zakatistovs[a]
Union of Greens and Farmers -
7
  • Uldis Augulis
  • Raimonds Bergmanis
  • Jānis Dūklavs
  • Janīna Jalinska
  • Armands Krauze
  • Māris Kučinskis
  • Viktors Valainis
-
4
  • Anda Čakša
  • Gundars Daudze
  • Dana Reizniece-Ozola
  • Jānis Vucāns
New Unity
6
  • Arvils Ašeradens
  • Andrejs Judins
  • Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš
  • Rihards Kozlovskis
  • Atis Lejiņš
  • Inese Lībiņa-Egnere
- -
2
  • Aldis Adamovičs
  • Ainars Latkovskis
Independents -
6
  • Aldis Gobzems
  • Linda Liepiņa
  • Inguna Rībena
  • Karina Sprūde
  • Jūlija Stepaņenko
  • Didzis Šmits
- -
Total 23 60 1 16

On 29 October 2020, the Saeima voted 55–30 to reject a popular initiative entitled "Registration of same-sex partners" (Viendzimuma partneru reģistrēšana),[23]which called for the passage of a civil union law and had been signed by 10,392 citizens.[24]That same day, the authors of the initiative started a new petition, called "For Legal Protection of All Families" (Par Visu Ģimeņu Tiesisko Aizsardzību), which had been signed by 23,392 citizens by March 2022.[25]

Constitutional Court ruling and proposed legislation

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On 12 November 2020, theConstitutional Court of Latviaruled that thelabour lawviolated Article 110 of theConstitution of Latvia,as it did not provideparental leaveto the non-biological parent in a same-sex relationship. Although Article 110 has defined marriage as "a union between a man and a woman" since 2006, the term "family"is not explicitly defined. The court held that the family is not solely a union based on marriage, but a social institution formed by close personal ties based on understanding and respect. The court ruled that the Constitution requires the state to protect same-sex partners, and gave the Saeima until 1 June 2022 to amend the labour law and introduce a measure to legally protect same-sex couples.[26]TheSupreme Courtruled in December 2021 that should the government fail to provide a way for same-sex partners to register their relationship by the 1 June deadline, couples would be able to have their relationship recognized by a court.[27]On 2 February 2022, the Ministry of Justice, led byDzintars Rasnačs,presented a civil union bill that would have provided same-sex couples with some of the rights and benefits of marriage.[28]The second largest parliamentary group in the Saeima, the New Conservative Party, announced its support for the bill, despite the party having opposed all previous attempts to establish civil unions. The leader of the Social Democratic Party,Jānis Urbanovičs,also indicated that the bill might receive broader support from the members of his parliamentary group.[29]

On 31 March 2022, the Saeima sent the civil union bill to the Legal Affairs Committee and approved it infirst reading,with those opposed boycotting the vote in hopes that the Saeima would fail to meet the necessaryquorum,but ultimately failing with exactly half of all MPs participating in the vote.[30]

31 March 2022 vote in the Saeima[31]
Party Voted for Voted against Abstained Absent (Did not vote)
Harmony
4
  • Boriss Cilevičs
  • Inga Goldberga
  • Regīna Ločmele
  • Igors Pimenovs
7
  • Andrejs Klementjevs
  • Jānis Krišāns
  • Edgars Kucins
  • Vladimirs Nikonovs
  • Vitālijs Orlovs
  • Ivans Ribakovs
  • Artūrs Rubiks
2
  • Sergejs Dolgopolovs
  • Nikolajs Kabanovs
5
  • Valerijs Agešins
  • Ivans Klementjevs
  • Jānis Tutins
  • Zenta Tretjaka
  • Jānis Urbanovičs
New Conservative Party
12
  • Ainars Baškis
  • Uldis Budriķis
  • Jānis Butāns
  • Jānis Cielēns
  • Krišjānis Feldmans
  • Līva Kreituse
  • Eva Mārtuža
  • Linda Medne
  • Juris Rancāns
  • Sandis Riekstiņš
  • Reinis Znotiņš
  • Normunds Žunna
- -
4
  • Ieva Akuratere
  • Dagmāra Beitnere-Le Galla
  • Aivars Geidāns
  • Evita Zālīte-Grosa
Development/For!
11
  • Krista Baumane
  • Mārtiņš Bondars
  • Ilmārs Dūrītis
  • Viesturs Liepkalns
  • Juris Pūce
  • Dace Rukšāne-Ščipčinska
  • Andris Skride
  • Mārtiņš Šteins
  • Vita Anda Tērauda
  • Inese Voika
  • Gatis Zamurs
- -
1
  • Aigars Bikše
National Alliance - - -
12
  • Jānis Dombrava
  • Raivis Dzintars
  • Jānis Iesalnieks
  • Ilze Indriksone
  • Ritvars Jansons
  • Aleksandrs Kiršteins
  • Rihards Kols
  • Janīna Kursīte-Pakule
  • Ināra Mūrniece
  • Ivars Puga
  • Edvīns Šnore
  • Edmunds Teirumnieks
Union of Greens and Farmers - - -
11
  • Uldis Augulis
  • Raimonds Bergmanis
  • Gundars Daudze
  • Jānis Dūklavs
  • Janīna Jalinska
  • Armands Krauze
  • Māris Kučinskis
  • Edgars Tavars
  • Didzis Šmits
  • Viktors Valainis
  • Jānis Vucāns
New Unity
9
  • Arvils Ašeradens
  • Iveta Benhena-Bēkena
  • Anda Čakša
  • Andrejs Judins
  • Rihards Kozlovskis
  • Ainars Latkovskis
  • Atis Lejiņš
  • Inese Lībiņa-Egnere
  • Kārlis Šadurskis
- -
2
  • Aldis Adamovičs
  • Aldis Blumbergs
The Independents - - -
6
  • Aldis Gobzems
  • Ieva Krapāne
  • Māris Možvillo
  • Ralfs Nemiro
  • Ramona Petraviča
  • Karina Sprūde
Independents
5
  • Vjačeslavs Dombrovskis
  • Artuss Kaimiņš
  • Evija Papule
  • Ilga Šuplinska
  • Atis Zakatistovs
- -
9
  • Jānis Ādamsons
  • Kaspars Ģirģens
  • Janīna Kursīte
  • Māris Mičerevskis
  • Romāns Naudiņš
  • Ēriks Pucens
  • Inguna Rībena
  • Jūlija Stepaņenko
  • Ļubova Švecova
Total 41 7 2 50

The bill's final reading was blocked on 2 June due to a lack of quorum, as only 40 MPs participated in the vote, and SpeakerInāra Mūrnieceended the parliamentary session without the bill being passed. The legislation was placed on the agenda for a future sitting of Parliament, and needed to pass before theparliamentary electionheld on 1 October 2022. As a result, the 1 June deadline by the Constitutional Court expired, meaning that same-sex couples could now apply with a court to request recognition of their relationship and enjoy some of the benefits and obligations offered by marriage. The Vice-President of the Constitutional Court, Irēna Kucina, said that "institutions and administrative courts will apply the Constitution directly". On 30 May, the Administrative District Court inRigagranted the first application from a same-sex couple and recognised the "public legal existence" of their relationship, concluding that the couple had a "relationship that fits the definition outlined in Article 110 of the Constitution". The court lamented that the Saeima had not "fulfilled its duty".[32][33][34]The Administrative District Court had recognized four same-sex couples by 8 July 2022,[35]and 16 couples by 28 October 2022.[36]

The proposed legislation in the Saeima would have established civil unions providing some of the rights, obligations and benefits of marriage, including in the areas ofinheritanceandtax.The bill would have also allowed same-sex partners to obtain information on the health of a hospitalised partner and make emergency health decisions, receive benefits in the event their partner dies, and claim care for their partner in the event that they have adisability.Civil unions would have been open to all adult citizens and non-residents of Latvia, includingrefugeesandstatelesspeople, but would not have been allowed to persons who are already married, in another civil union or who are blood relatives or related by adoption. They would have been registered anddissolvedusing a procedure similar to that forcivil marriage.However, the bill would have not allowed same-sex couples to share a common surname or toadopt.In addition, parties to a civil union would not have automatically become heirs to the common property, but the partners would have been able to draw up awillor a contract of inheritance to legally contract for how their protected common property would have been divided before any eventual separation.[37]

On 6 December 2022, following the October elections and the formation of a newgovernment,the Legal Affairs Committee rejected the proposed civil union bill. However, registering a relationship with the courts was still possible.[38]In January 2023, theGrand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rightsruled inFedotova and Others v. RussiathatArticle 8of theEuropean Convention on Human Rights,which guarantees a right to private and family life, places apositive obligationon all member states of theCouncil of Europeto recognize same-sex partnerships.[39]

Passage of legislation in 2023

[edit]

FollowingKrišjānis Kariņš' resignation as prime minister in August 2023, a newgovernment,led by Prime MinisterEvika Siliņaand consisting of theNew Unity,theUnion of Greens and FarmersandThe Progressives,was sworn in on 15 September 2023. A political analyst said, "The most significant policy shift could be the new government’s intention to legislate on human rights, such as to try to allow marriages for same-sex couples."[40]Kaspars Briškens,party leader of The Progressives, said there is "a willingness [in the government] to work on a new Law on Cohabitation for same-sex persons".[41]On 26 October 2023, the New Unity party proposed a newly-drafted legislative package recognising same-sex unions. The legislation would establish civil unions (Latvian:civilā savienība,[42]pronounced[ˈtsivilaːˈsaviɛniːba])[b]providing the same rights and benefits of marriage with the exception of adoption and inheritance rights. On 30 October, Prime Minister Siliņa announced that the coalition government had decided to support the bill, and that there was unanimous support for the legislation from The Progressives and the Union of Greens and Farmers, as well as Independent MPOļegs Burovs,who had previously stated his opposition to same-sex unions.[43]On 2 November, the legislation passed its first reading in the Saeima by a 53–40 vote, with all 52 coalition MPs and Burovs voting in favour.[44]On 9 November, the legislation passed its second and final reading in the Saeima by a 53–43 vote.[45]

However, 34 opposition MPs tabled a motion asking PresidentEdgars Rinkēvičsto delaypromulgatingthe bill until January 2024. Opponents were seeking to collect 154,241 signatures (10% of voters) in order to proceed with areferendumon the civil union law. Rinkēvičs reacted, "This [suspension of publication of the law] will be done in accordance with the Constitution. Saeima deputies have the right to exercise their constitutional rights, and now, the society, citizens of Latvia, have two months to support this idea or not." Prime Minister Siliņa welcomed the law's passage, tweeting, "This is a good day. Society has taken an important step in creating a modern and humane Latvia."[46]The Central Election Commission reported on 26 December that 16,170 signatures had been collected by then.[47]Only 35,191 signatures had been collected by the deadline on 5 January 2024, meaning that the referendum initiative had failed.[48][49]The bill was subsequently signed into law by Rinkēvičs and took effect on 1 July 2024.[50]The first civil union was performed in Riga on 1 July between Maksims Ringo and Jānis Locs.[51][52]

Same-sex marriage

[edit]
Laws regarding same-sex partnerships in Europe¹
Marriage
Civil union
Limited domestic recognition (cohabitation)
Limited foreign recognition (residency rights)
Unrecognized
Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples
¹ May include recent laws or court decisions that have not yet entered into effect.

Constitution

[edit]

In December 2005, the Saeima voted 65–5 to approve an amendment to theConstitution of Latviabanningsame-sex marriage.[53]The amendment took effect on 17 January 2006. Article 110 reads:[54]"The State shall protect and support marriage — a union between a man and a woman, the family, the rights of parents and rights of the child".[c]

Court cases

[edit]

2018 European Court of Justice ruling

[edit]

On 5 June 2018, theEuropean Court of Justiceruled that member states of theEuropean Union(EU) must recognise thefreedom of movementandresidency rightsof same-sex spouses, provided one partner is an EU citizen.[56][57][58]The court ruled that EU member states may choose whether or not to allow same-sex marriage, but they cannot obstruct the freedom of residence of an EU citizen and their spouse. In addition, the court ruled that the term "spouse" isgender-neutraland does not necessarily imply a person of the opposite sex.[59][60]The Latvian Government and the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs announced their intention to abide by the ruling. Later that same month, a Russian national, who had married her Latvian same-sex partnerin Portugal,received aresidence permitallowing her to reside with her spouse in Latvia.[61]

2021 Supreme Court ruling

[edit]

In 2015, two same-sex couples attempted to register their marriages at the Registry Office inRiga,which refused citing Latvia's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. The Administrative District Court, and later the Administrative Regional Court, ruled against the couples, holding that the recognition of same-sex marriage was not possible in Latvia and that this was a matter for the Parliament to deal with. In May 2016, theSupreme Court of Latviaoverturned the Administrative Regional Court's decision.[62]A court press spokeswoman said that the court agreed with the administrative courts that current regulations do not allow for same-sex marriages to be legally recognized in Latvia; however, the matter "should have been considered in a context not of marriage, but of registering familial partnership". Additionally, it "would have been impossible to conclude whether the applicants' rights had been violated unless their claim was accepted and reviewed in a proper manner."[63]

In June 2021, the Supreme Court submitted a petition to theConstitutional Court of Latviaandstayed proceedingsin the case.[62][64]The Constitution Court had already ruled in November 2020 that the Constitution imposes an obligation on the Parliament to establish a legal framework for same-sex unions. In July 2021, the Constitutional Court rejected the petition, stating that the Supreme Court had not properly explained why its November 2020 ruling was not applicable in this case. Subsequently, the Supreme Court ruled in December 2021 that Latvia lacks a civil partnership law and that court rulings could serve as a substitute for the registration of same-sex relationships until lawmakers pass a partnership law. It ruled that same-sex couples could ask regional courts to recognize their relationship in line with theLaw on Registration of Civil Status Acts(Latvian:Civilstāvokļa aktu reģistrācijas likums) if the Saeima failed to adopt legislation protecting same-sex couples. The court held that, "The obligation to ensure the legal protection of same-sex couples also follows from the principle of human dignity, which requires recognizing the inherent dignity and equal value of each human being."[27][65]The ruling states:[66]

Until Parliament has created an appropriate legal framework, a judgment establishing that the relationships of certain persons are to be recognized as family relationships within the meaning of Article 110 of the Constitution will replace the registration of these relationships by the State. […] Summarizing the above, it can be concluded that the first sentence of Article 110 of the Constitution, in conjunction with the principle of human dignity, establishes a legal obligation on the State to ensure legal recognition of the family relations of same-sex couples. In the absence of a specific legal framework, the law enforcer, including the court, is obliged to ensure the effective implementation of the Constitution and human rights. […] Therefore, the judgment of the regional court is annulled.

Public opinion

[edit]

The 2015Eurobarometerfound that 19% ofLatvianssupported same-sex marriage.[67]In 2019, the Eurobarometer showed that support had increased to 24%, while 70% were opposed.[68]

AGLOBSECsurvey conducted in March 2023 showed that 40% of Latvians supported same-sex marriage, while 46% were opposed and 14% were undecided.[69]The 2023 Eurobarometer found that 36% of Latvians thought same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe, while 59% were opposed. The survey also found that 35% of Latvians thought that "there is nothing wrong in a sexual relationship between two persons of the same sex", while 59% disagreed.[70]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^abThe MP did not have the right to vote at the time because they were being prosecuted.
  2. ^Russian:гражданское партнёрство,graždánskoje partnjórstvo,pronounced[ɡrɐʐˈdanskəjəpɐrt⁽ʲ⁾ˈnʲɵrstvə];Livonian:kubsjelāmilieppimi
  3. ^InLatvian:Valsts aizsargā un atbalsta laulību — savienību starp vīrieti un sievieti, ģimeni, vecāku un bērna tiesības.
    InRussian:Государство защищает и поддерживает брак – союз между мужчиной и женщиной, семью, права родителей и детей.
    InLivonian:Vald kāitsõb ja tigūb abjelāmiz — īt mīe ja naiz vailõ, aimõ, vaņīmiz ja laps õigiži.[55]

References

[edit]
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  2. ^LATVIA: PARTNERSHIP LAW PRESENTED TO THE MEDIA AND SENT TO PARLIAMENT
  3. ^LATVIA: PROGRESS ON PARTNERSHIP LAW
  4. ^LATVIA KILLS PARTNER MEASURE
  5. ^(in Latvian)Letter No. 1-8/4 to parliamentary committees on human rights and legal affairs by the Ombudsman J. Jansons26 January 2012
  6. ^"Pabriks: Latvijas likumdošanu nevar balstīt uz stereotipiem un idejām par politikas un baznīcas vienotību"(in Latvian). Delfi.lv. 2 June 2012.Retrieved11 April2014.
  7. ^""Mozaīka" prognozē partnerattiecību likuma pieņemšanu tuvākajā piecgadē "(in Latvian). Kasjauns.lv. 7 May 2012.Retrieved11 April2014.
  8. ^"Straujuma: Latvijā jārada tiesisks regulējums visu veidu partnerattiecībām"(in Latvian). Kasjauns.lv. 7 November 2014.Retrieved9 November2014.
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  13. ^"Coalition sceptical about approving Cohabitation law".Baltic News Network.24 March 2015.
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  15. ^21st century family requires appropriate legal framework
  16. ^"Latvia rejects Unmarried Couple's Law intended for cohabiting partners".Baltic News Network.20 June 2019.
  17. ^"Lesbisch-schwule Paare in Lettland weiterhin ohne Rechte".Queer.de(in German). 20 June 2019.
  18. ^"Saeima rejects civil partnership bill".Public Broadcasting of Latvia.20 June 2019.
  19. ^"Saeima noraida Dzīvesbiedru likumprojektu".apollo.lv(in Latvian). 20 June 2019.
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  26. ^"Satversmes tiesa atzīst viendzimuma pāra tiesības uz bērna dzimšanas atvaļinājumu".www.lsm.lv(in Latvian).Retrieved2022-02-11.
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