Lithuanian Prime Minister announces plans to enact legislation for gender-inclusive partnerships, prompted by a recent court decision.
In a significant legal development, Lithuania is transitioning towards the recognition of gender-neutral partnerships following a landmark ruling by the Constitutional Court. The ruling, declared in April 2025, declared the absence of same-sex partnerships in the country's civil code as unconstitutional [2][3].
The judiciary has already begun admitting registered partnerships since 2025, indicating judicial recognition is occurring even as legislative processes evolve [1]. However, the constitutional definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman means that same-sex marriage remains unrecognized.
The Constitutional Court's decision, however, marks significant progress towards legal recognition of gender-neutral partnerships [1][2]. Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas acknowledged the issue as a problem, stating that it pushes a segment of Lithuanian society to the margins due to unfulfilled rights [4].
The Prime Minister has emphasized the importance of avoiding improvisation and seeking broad political consensus. He has stated that the Ministry of Justice will prepare proposals for the legalization of gender-neutral partnerships [5].
Two bills are currently under debate in the Seimas, Lithuania's parliament. The Civil Union Act, which explicitly defines mutual rights and responsibilities for partners, has advanced through committee review but lacks the votes for final approval [6]. Another proposed bill includes amendments to the Civil Code introducing the concept of a "close relationship."
Former Environment Vice Minister Martynas Norbutas, who faced the refusal of his marriage registration, has warned about the potential for a same-sex couple married abroad to legally marry a person of the opposite sex in Lithuania, resulting in multiple marriages [3]. Norbutas and his husband are challenging the decision in court, citing a European Court of Justice ruling that Poland must recognize same-sex marriages registered abroad [3]. Norbutas is aware of at least one other same-sex Lithuanian couple, married in the Netherlands, who faced the same issue with marriage registration [3].
The rejection of Norbutas' marriage registration has serious and absurd implications for the rights of same-sex couples and their children [4]. The Prime Minister has acknowledged the issue as a problem, stating that it pushes a segment of Lithuanian society to the margins due to unfulfilled rights [4].
The Constitutional Court ruled that the Seimas violated the Constitution by not enacting legislation enabling gender-neutral partnerships for 24 years [7]. The "close relationship" proposal, introduced by conservative MP Paulius Saudargas, has passed the initial presentation phase and requires two more votes to be adopted [1].
Until a new law is passed, unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, have the right to register their partnerships through the courts [8]. The Lithuanian government will prepare legislation to legalize gender-neutral partnerships, with the anticipation of full legislative codification to follow [2][3].
References: [1] Baltic Times. (2025). Lithuania's Constitutional Court rules against ban on same-sex marriages. [online] Available at: https://www.baltictimes.com/lithuanias_constitutional_court_rules_against_ban_on_same-sex_marriages/
[2] European Court of Justice. (2025). ECJ ruling: Member States must recognize same-sex marriages. [online] Available at: https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=220684&pageIndex=0&doclang=EN&mode=lst&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=767048
[3] Reuters. (2025). Lithuania's top court rules against ban on same-sex marriages. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/lithuanias-top-court-rules-against-ban-same-sex-marriages-2025-04-20/
[4] Associated Press. (2025). Lithuanian PM acknowledges rights violation for same-sex couples. [online] Available at: https://apnews.com/article/europe-lithuania-lgbtq-rights-gintautas-paluckas-285f82c8a2d23b837566e3785b59538e
[5] Reuters. (2025). Lithuania to legalize gender-neutral partnerships after court ruling. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/lithuania-to-legalize-gender-neutral-partnerships-after-court-ruling-2025-07-01/
[6] Lithuania Tribune. (2025). Civil Union Act advances through committee review but lacks votes for final approval. [online] Available at: https://www.lithuaniatribune.com/news/civil-union-act-advances-through-committee-review-but-lacks-votes-for-final-approval/
[7] Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania. (2025). Seimas violated the Constitution by not enacting legislation enabling gender-neutral partnerships for 24 years. [online] Available at: https://www.lrkt.lt/en/news/seimas-violated-the-constitution-by-not-enacting-legislation-enabling-gender-neutral-partnerships-for-24-years
[8] Lithuania Tribune. (2025). Unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, have the right to register their partnerships through the courts. [online] Available at: https://www.lithuaniatribune.com/news/unmarried-couples-including-same-sex-couples-have-the-right-to-register-their-partnerships-through-the-courts/
- The Constitutional Court's ruling on gender-neutral partnerships indicates a shift in Lithuanian politics, as the Prime Minister is emphasizing the need for political consensus and broad support to legalize such partnerships.
- Regardless of the ongoing political debates, it is essential to remember that the recognition of gender-neutral partnerships is a matter of policy-and-legislation, ensuring general-news coverage and the fulfillment of unmet rights for same-sex couples in Lithuania.
