Estonians vote in controversial cohabitation law

A majority of Estonians are against a controversial cohabitation law, a recent poll reveals

A total of 34%  are for and 58% against the  law enabling couples, who for some reason cannot get married or do not want to get married but who want legal guarantees. Eight percent said they did not have an opinion on the matter.

Residents up to the age of 35 years old were more supportive of the law. Elsewhere, the biggest age group against the law were 51 years old and older.

There was a noticeable difference in the respondents' nationality - among Estonians, the support is higher than among non-Estonian respondents.

Among other socio-demographic groups, support to cohabitation law is a bit higher than the consolidated figure (34%), among people with university education (39%), higher income (40%) and living in the Tartu region (44%).

The draft cohabitation law passed its first reading in the parliament in June, and the discussion will continue again in the autumn.

The bill on cohabitation enables couples, who for some reason cannot get married or do not want to get married but who want legal guarantees, to register their cohabitation.

The bill creates the possibility of concluding gender-neutral cohabitation agreements and its aim is to guarantee adequate protection of people who cohabitate together but are not married.