Same-sex couple sue over Slovakia’s refusal to register marriage
A same-sex couple is suing Slovakian authorities to force the recognition of their Austrian marriage. The case highlights the tension between EU legal mandates and the conservative social policies of the Slovakian government.
Why it matters
It tests the reach of EU court rulings on LGBTQ+ rights within member states that maintain restrictive national laws.
Ivan Novotný (left) and Metod Špaček married in Austria in 2020 but their marital status at home in Slovakia remains unrecognised. Photograph: Rob Cameron Ivan Novotný (left) and Metod Špaček married in Austria in 2020 but their marital status at home in Slovakia remains unrecognised. Photograph: Rob Cameron Slovakia Same-sex couple sue over Slovakia’s refusal to register marriage Case of couple who wed legally in Austria exposes clash between EU court ruling and national restrictions
Prefer the Guardian on Google A same-sex couple are suing authorities in Slovakia for refusing to register their Austrian marriage, testing whether a landmark EU court ruling can turn recognition abroad into legal security at home.
Their fight exposes a clash between European obligations and national restrictions – and what that means for LGBTQ+ people living under Robert Fico’s populist-nationalist government.
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