This archive report was first published on 4 July 2020.
On the eve of the second round of Poland's presidential election, incumbent President Andrzej Duda has reignited the debate on gay rights by announcing plans to propose a constitutional amendment banning same-sex couples from adopting children.
Speaking at a campaign event in the southern town of Szczawno-Zdroj on July 4, 2020, Duda stated that he believes the Polish constitution should explicitly prohibit same-sex couples from adopting children, citing the need to ensure the safety and proper upbringing of children.
"In Poland's constitution, it should be explicitly stated that anyone in a same-sex relationship is forbidden from adopting a child," Duda said. "To ensure the safety of the child and a proper upbringing, for the Polish state to safeguard the rights of children... I believe such an entry should exist," he added.
Notably, Duda's announcement has sparked a mixed reaction from his rival, Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who is currently polling neck to neck with the incumbent. While Trzaskowski has expressed his opposition to same-sex couples adopting children, he has also stated his support for civil partnerships between same-sex couples, which are currently banned in Poland.
According to a 2019 opinion poll by the CBOS institute, just nine percent of Poles believe that gay and lesbian couples should have the right to adopt children, while 29 percent support gay marriage.
