In this year the constitutional judges will most likely have to make another decision regarding discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in partnerships. The purpose of the amended low on marriage and family relations was to eliminate such discrimination. The decision about the admissibility of the referendum was 'technical', and by 5 votes against 4 it was decided that the mentioned amended law did not belong in the category of laws which must not be subjected to a referendum according to constitutional provisions. Now it seems they will have to study the controversial, i.e. discriminatory law, in more detail.

Immediately after the law was rejected by the referendum, Ombudsman established it was "unquestionably a legitimate expression of the will of people regarding the new definition of marriage." Yet the rejected amended law was "an attempt to eliminate discrimination of individuals based on their sexual orientation, which is one of the personal circumstances based on which, according to the Constitution, such individual should not be treated differently."
The office of Vlasta Nussdorfer, the Ombudsman, announced their intention to study, in cooperation with non-governmental organisations, the need and possibility for filing a request for constitutional control and evaluation of lawfulness of regulations which do not give equal rights to individuals joined in partnerships. Obviously it will happen quite soon.

"The meeting of Ombudsman with non-governmental organisations and some other experts with the purpose of evaluating the options for a suitable approach will be organized next week," announced the office of the Omobutsman, and promised to inform the public of their further actions.