Slovakia refuses to register same-sex marriage, drawing EU Commission warning
The Slovak Ministry of Interior has officially refused to register the marriage of Ivan Novotný and Metod Špaček, a same-sex couple who wed in Austria in 2020. Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok personally signed the letter denying the request, citing the Slovak Constitution, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
The couple has criticized the decision as a political intervention, noting that the refusal came via a personal letter from the minister rather than a standard administrative decision. They also highlighted that the ministry failed to act within the legally required 90-day period. Consequently, the couple has announced plans to file a lawsuit at the Administrative Court in Bratislava.
The European Commission has responded by stating it is closely monitoring the situation. The Commission emphasized that EU law and rulings from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) take precedence over national legislation, and that member states are obligated to respect such rulings. The Commission warned it would use all available legal tools to ensure compliance if necessary.
Entities
European Commission · European Court of Justice · Ivan Novotny · Maroš Žilinka · Matúš Šutaj Eštok · Metod Spacek · Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic · Robert Fico
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The European Commission stated that EU law and rulings from the Court of Justice of the EU take precedence over national law. www.interez.sk · parameter.sk · www.pravda.sk
- [● 8 SOURCES] The Slovak Ministry of Interior denied the request to register a same-sex marriage performed in Austria into the special registry. parameter.sk · www.aktuality.sk · www.interez.sk · dennikn.sk · www.topky.sk · +2 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka issued warnings to the Ministry of Interior for failing to decide on applications within the legal timeframe. www.topky.sk · sita.sk
- [● 8 SOURCES] Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok signed a letter stating that the Slovak Constitution defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. parameter.sk · www.aktuality.sk · www.interez.sk · dennikn.sk · www.topky.sk · +2 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] The couple, Ivan Novotný and Metod Špaček, intend to file a lawsuit at the Administrative Court in Bratislava regarding the refusal. www.interez.sk · parameter.sk · www.topky.sk · sita.sk · www.pravda.sk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The European Commission is closely monitoring the case and will use all available tools if necessary. www.interez.sk · parameter.sk · www.pravda.sk