Referendum in Romania Fails, Gay Marriages Banned by Law

Romanians were asked if they wanted to approve the constitutional change to specify that marriages meant only the connection between a man and a woman. But only 20.4 percent of eligible voters expressed their will, much less from the 30 percent limit required for the validity of the referendum.

The result is somewhat surprising, considering a Friday survey showing a 90 - percent support for changing the Constitution.

Mihai Gheorghiu, president of “Coalition for the family”, the association that was against the referendum, told “BBC” before voting that step, they were trying “to protect at the constitutional level determining marriage: between a woman and a man”.

But after the two-day vote, it seems that the strategy of those who campaigned against the referendum, or for its boycott, in hopes that turnout did not reach the 30 per cent limit of voters to return the referendum valid, was more successful.

In practice, however, there is not much to change. Romania follows not to recognise gay marriages or civil unions. Dan Barna, opposition to “Save Romania Union”, the only important political party opposing the referendum, called for the government's immediate resignation for the misuse of 40m euros from public funds for a fantasy.

The ruling Social Democrats' party had strongly supported the referendum.