Referendum Holds, Majority Of Swiss Citizens Vote To Legalize Same-Sex Marriage And Children Adoption

Illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Silar)

JAKARTA - Switzerland agreed to legalize civil marriage and the right to adopt children of same-sex couples by a nearly two-thirds majority in a referendum on Sunday.

According to the results provided by the Swiss federal chancellery, 64.1 percent of voters voted in favor of same-sex marriage in the national referendum conducted under Switzerland's direct democracy system.

"We are very happy and relieved," said Antonia Hauswirth of the national committee 'Marriage for All', adding supporters of same-sex marriage will celebrate in the Swiss capital, Bern.

Amnesty International said in a statement that opening civil marriage to same-sex couples was a 'milestone for equality'.

However, Monika Rueegger of the far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) and a member of the 'No to Marriage for All' referendum committee said she was disappointed.

"It's not about love and feelings, it's about the welfare of the children. Children and fathers are the losers here," he told Reuters.

The amended law would allow same-sex couples to marry, and adopt children unrelated to them. Married lesbian couples will also be allowed to have children through sperm donation, which is currently legal only for married heterosexual couples.

It will also make it easier for the foreign spouse of a Swiss individual to obtain citizenship.

Separately, Swiss Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter told a media briefing that the new rules are likely to take effect on July 1 next year.

In a separate referendum, 64.9 percent of Swiss voters rejected a proposal to introduce a capital gains tax.

To note, In Switzerland, most laws and other acts passed by parliament come into effect without asking the public to vote.

However, a referendum is possible when citizens who oppose a particular decision collect 50,000 valid signatures within 100 days of the official issuance of the law.

A survey conducted by Pink Cross in 2020 showed that more than 80 percent of Switzerland's population supports same-sex marriage, suggesting the law will apply despite a referendum.

Prior to Switzerland, a number of countries had recognized and legalized same-sex marriage, such as France in 2013, Germany in 2017 to the United States Supreme Court in 2015 which ruled that the Constitution granted same-sex marriage rights.