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Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has questioned the need to introduce civil partnerships, saying that LGBTQ citizens already enjoy equal rights despite the Strasbourg-based human rights court condemning Romania for failing to protect same-sex couples.
In an interview with Euractiv's partner Hotnews, Ciolacu was asked to answer a question from a reader who had left Romania, asking why she should return to a country where her relationship was not legally recognised.
Romania is "the most tolerant" country, he said, after initially saying he did not fully understand "the question's underlying premise".
"I have LGBT friends, some who have visited my home with their same-sex partners. I have no issue with that," he added.
When told that same-sex couples need legal protection, he questioned why that would be necessary, noting that he does not receive "extra protection" either.
"Aren't we all equal? Let’s not get into positive discrimination. I repeat: I don't have a problem, I don't judge you, and you don't judge me. You're Muslim; I'm orthodox. In Romania, religious and ethnic minorities are represented in parliament, and we are often held up as an example for our inclusivity," he added.
The MozaiQ Association, an LGBTQ rights advocacy group, condemned Ciolacu's remarks, saying they revealed "a serious misunderstanding of the needs of LGBTQ citizens in Romania and the way the Romanian state violates their rights by refusing to adopt civil partnerships."
The association reminded the prime minister of several rights that same-sex couples lack, including the right to inherit, the right to make medical decisions for their partner, the right to benefit from the partner's pension if they survive them, and the right to own property together.
In May 2023, the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Romania for failing to recognise same-sex couples. Although the country is now obliged to introduce a legal framework to recognise same-sex families, the government has delayed action, citing a lack of societal readiness and strong opposition from the Romanian Orthodox Church.
[Edited by Daniel Eck]
