by Rex Wockner
International News
Hungary's domestic-partnership law, which was to take effect Jan. 1, was struck down by the Constitutional Court Dec. 15.
The court said the law is unconstitutional because it would have given the rights of marriage to opposite-sex couples who are not married.
A domestic-partnership law limited to gay couples only, however, would not be unconstitutional, the court ruled.
"The decision argues that … allowing different-sex couples to enter into a relationship very similar to that of marriage duplicates the institution of marriage, and thus contradicts the special protection of marriage enshrined in the Constitution," said Tamas Dombos of Hungary's Hatter Support Society for LGBT People.
Following the decision, Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany instructed the minister of justice to prepare a new registered-partnership bill taking into account the court's determination.
