The European Parliament Intergroup on Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Rights reported that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) has voted to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage. FYROM’s conservative government began this process last year when the country’s parliament voted 72-4 to legally define marriage as legally being between just one man and one woman.

The Council of Europe’s advisory body was critical of this move. MEP Tanja Fajon, Vice President of the Intergroup of LGBT Rights, said that instead of taking the EP’s criticism seriously, FYROM’s government decided to create a constitutional obstacle to create possible legislation on the issue in the future.