The Polish government has approved a bill introducing "cohabitation contracts" for couples living together, a measure intended to improve the legal status of same-sex couples in one of the European Union countries where LGBT rights remain among the most limited.
This bill, championed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government, provides for the legal recognition of unmarried unions, without, however, establishing same-sex marriage or joint adoption. It is an intermediate step aimed at granting rights regarding property, inheritance, and legal representation to the couples concerned.
Having come to power in 2023, Donald Tusk pledged to break with the ultraconservative policies of his predecessors, which were regularly criticized by Brussels for undermining the rule of law and minority rights. However, his attempts at social reform, particularly regarding abortion and LGBT rights, have met with strong political resistance.
Even within the governing coalition, the minority conservative PSL partner has expressed reservations about these developments. Furthermore, the bill could face a presidential veto, as the last two heads of state were members of, or close to, the nationalist Law and Justice party, which opposes any recognition of same-sex unions.
LGBT rights groups welcomed this symbolic step forward, while emphasizing that Poland still lags behind most European Union countries. They called on Parliament to adopt the legislation quickly and to continue reforms to guarantee full legal equality.
