Lucia Plavakova rejects Fico same-sex marriage criticism

Slovak opposition lawmaker Lucia Plavakova and her Progressive Slovakia party rejected Prime Minister Robert Fico's criticism of her same-sex marriage after he called it “contrary to the constitution.”

Plavakova, a lesbian lawmaker for the centrist opposition party, married her partner in Austria on Saturday because Slovakia does not allow same-sex marriages. At a press briefing late Monday, Fico described the marriage as a “flagrant provocation” and “an act contrary to the constitution,” and asked what example lawmakers set for Slovak citizens.

Plavakova responded on Instagram that she and her wife had taken wedding cakes to neighbours. Progressive Slovakia said Plavakova had “not broken any law nor the constitution” and condemned Fico's comments on her private life.

The exchange came as Slovakia marked four years since two men were murdered outside a Bratislava gay bar on Zamocka Street. Since Fico returned to power in 2023, Plavakova has faced hate messages and threats, including vulgar comments from coalition lawmakers and expulsion from the parliamentary chamber over rainbow stickers on her computer.

Fico's government last year changed Slovakia's constitution to “recognise only two sexes, male and female.” His government previously changed the constitution in 2014 to define marriage as “a union between man and woman.”