Romania marriage poll: One man, one woman definition up for vote

Romanians are deciding this weekend whether a family should revolve around a married man and woman.

The two-day vote on changing their constitution has been portrayed by supporters of the referendum as a way of protecting the status of the “traditional” family.

Opponents warn it will come at the expense of same-sex couples, single parents and children too.

And there are accusations that the whole exercise is a sideshow to distract from a corruption case involving the leader of the ruling party.

Romania does not recognise gay marriage or civil unions, and the referendum does not change that. Instead, it is about clarifying the language in the constitution.

Article 48 says the family “is founded on the freely consented marriage of the spouses”. A Yes vote would change that to “marriage between a man and a woman”.

“We want to protect, at a constitutional level, the definition of marriage – between one woman and one man,” says Mihai Gheorghiu, president of the pro-referendum Coalition for Family.

BBC