Poland's government is proposing “cohabitation contracts” for couples to solve a politically sensitive issue

Poland's government on Tuesday approved a bill introducing “cohabitation contracts” for couples living together, a measure to recognize same-sex unions in one of the European Union countries that offer very few rights to LGBT people, Reuters reports.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who returned to power at the end of 2023 after promising to reverse some of the policies of the ultraconservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, criticized by Brussels for undermining democracy and minority rights. But Tusk has struggled to deliver reforms on abortion and LGBT rights.

They have run into resistance from the Polish People's Party, one of the minority partners in his governing coalition, as well as veto threats from two consecutive PiS-aligned presidents: Andrzej Duda and Karol Nawrocki, the conservative candidate who won Poland's elections this summer.

“We are going to parliament with a reconciliation project that we believe has a majority in both the lower and upper houses,” Katarzyna Kotula, the government official in charge of equality issues, told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

What the draft law provides for “cohabitation contracts”

The bill would allow two people, regardless of their gender, to sign a cohabitation contract at a notary's office. It covers rights related to housing, maintenance, access to medical information and health insurance, carer's leave, joint tax returns and tax exemptions.

The measure does not go as far as legalizing same-sex marriage, which will remain prohibited.

Tusk's pro-European government hopes the limited scope of the bill will secure President Nawrocki's approval. LGBT organizations expressed their frustration but said the measure may be the only one with any real chance of getting through parliament.

“This is not a moment of triumph. After two years of Donald Tusk's government, the coalition in power has finally managed to come up with a joint proposal,” the Campaign Against Homophobia organization said in a statement after the initial publication of the bill.

“This is not the law we have fought for over the years. It is a poor response to high expectations – and the only one that, in the current situation, can provide a minimal sense of security,” she added.

Poland, a country with a strong Catholic tradition, remains among the EU's most restrictive states on LGBT rights, despite growing public support for legal recognition of same-sex couples.