In Czechia, 16 of 27 Elected Senators Support Same-Sex Marriage

In Czechia, 16 of the 27 senators elected in the elections that concluded on October 17, 2026, support opening marriage to same-sex couples with all associated rights, including joint adoption. The figures appear in a post-election infographic published by Jsme fér, an initiative campaigning for equal marriage rights.

The first round took place on October 9–10 and the second on October 16–17. This cycle renewed one-third of the upper house of parliament. The Czech Senate has 81 seats, and senators serve six-year terms. The figure of 16 concerns the 27 winners in this election cycle.

Under Jsme fér’s methodology, candidates whose contact details could be found received a question by email and two reminders. They could answer “yes”, “no” or “I have no clear opinion” and add a comment. The organisation also used public statements, earlier correspondence and the Electoral Calculator, a service comparing political positions. Where sources differed, the direct answer to this year’s survey took priority.

The infographic lists Zuzana Ceralová Petrofová among the supporters. She won in the Hradec Králové district with the backing of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS). Her victory was confirmed by the Czech News Agency ČTK. The list also includes winners nominated by coalitions involving ODS and TOP 09.

The tally describes the stated positions of politicians elected in this cycle; the outcome of a future parliamentary vote remains open. The methodology distinguishes opponents of same-sex marriage from candidates without a clear view and those whose position could not be established.

Since January 1, 2025, same-sex couples in Czechia have been able to enter partnerships under the Civil Code. The Czech Interior Ministry explains that many marriage provisions apply to them; a partner may also adopt the other partner’s child.

Cover: archive photograph of the Czech Senate chamber, Anna Tesař / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP.