Legal Affairs Committee receives another proposed constitutional amendment on 'two genders'

On September 24, a majority in the Saeima referred a new draft amendment to Latvia's Constitution (Satversme) to the Legal Affairs Committee for review. The proposal, put forward by the "Latvia First" party, would state that the state recognizes only two genders — male and female — and protects the status of women as mothers and men as fathers, while not supporting the spread of artificially constructed genders. The draft also specifies that marriage is a union between a man and a woman, to which no other legally established form of relationship can be equated.

The motion to send the amendment to committee was backed by deputies from the United List, the Union of Greens and Farmers, and the National Alliance. Deputies from New Unity and For Progressiveness voted against, along with independent MPs Skaidrīte Ābrama and Ieva Brante.

Earlier amendment still pending

The Legal Affairs Committee has held a similarly worded constitutional amendment since summer 2025, which would establish that only two genders exist and that the state should not promote the spread of artificially constructed genders. That draft has not yet reached its first reading.

Regarding that earlier proposal, the committee had requested an opinion from the Ombudsman's Office, which said it was not convinced there was a legal or social need to amend the Constitution on this point. The office warned that handling the issue in a biased manner could deepen social polarization and intolerance, urging politicians to observe ethical standards and keep the debate respectful and constructive.

Ombudswoman Karina Palkova said in September 2025, on the program "Spried ar Delfi," that medically and biologically there are only two genders, and that this already follows from the current Constitution, adding that the country's basic law should not be amended repeatedly.