The Last in Western Europe... Switzerland Also Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Switzerland has become the last Western European country to legalize same-sex marriage after a national referendum.

According to major foreign media on the 26th (local time), 64.1% of voters nationwide supported the "Marriage for All" bill recognizing same-sex marriage in the referendum held that day. All 26 cantons recorded a majority in favor.

With the passage of the bill, same-sex couples will be legally allowed to marry and have the right to raise children, receiving equal treatment as opposite-sex couples. The effective date will be determined by the government through a separate procedure.

Earlier, after the Swiss parliament passed the bill at the end of last year, opponents collected 50,000 signatures to bring the legalization of same-sex marriage to a national referendum.

Switzerland recognized civil unions granting civil law rights to same-sex couples in 2007 but had not legalized same-sex marriage that treats same-sex and opposite-sex couples equally.

Switzerland, with a population of 8.5 million, is known as a conservative country where women were only granted voting rights nationwide in 1990.

Switzerland is the 30th country worldwide to legalize same-sex marriage. In Western Europe, countries such as the Netherlands (starting in 2001), France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Belgium had already legalized same-sex marriage.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.