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Slovak referendum failed to strengthen ban on gay marriage

Xinhua, February 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

The referendum that would have strengthened the country's ban on gay marriages failed as the turnout reached only 21.4 percent, the Slovak statistics office announced Sunday.

According to the office, only 21.4 percent of the country's 5.4 million eligible voters came to the polls, far below the required 50 percent for legislative changes.

The referendum featured three questions: the status of marriage as a unique bond between a man and a woman was backed by 94.5 percent; rejecting the right of same-sex couples to adopt and raise children was supported by 92.4 percent; and the right of parents to decide whether or not their children should attend classes dealing with sex education and euthanasia was backed by 90.3 percent.

It was the eighth referendum in Slovak history. Only one has been declared valid so far -- on Slovakia's joining the European Union. Endi