Czechia – 66 smaller and bigger companies signed an open letter addressed to Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala to back legislation in favour of “same-sex marriage”.
Companies argue they are impacted economically by losing talents as a result of the conservative law on marriage.
Quoted by Czech Television, vice president of Vodafone Richard Stonavsky, one of the signatories, said that “The letter was signed by 66 smaller and bigger companies employing tens of thousands of people in the Czech Republic.”
According to the signatories, the current law on marriage costs 0.1 to 0.7% of GDP annually to Czech economy.
“I have never shied away from debate on how to improve the lives of those living in same-sex partnership – moving the legislation so they have more rights,” said in response Prime Minister Fiala.
He added that he wants “parliamentarians to vote freely based on their own convictions about morally-ethical affairs.”
After the end of state Socialism, Czechia was prone to adopt legislation on same-sex couples partnerships. Polls show that the Czech society is very liberal regarding sexual issues, especially among other post-Socialist countries.
The five-parties coalition led by Prime Minister Fiala is mostly made up of conservatives which oppose same-sex marriage. A second reading in parliament in June happened for the first time. A second reading of the legislation is expected in November again.
CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE NEWS
66 Czech companies urge their government to “ensure equal rights to LGBT+ people”
Follow us
