Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar conceded defeat Saturday as two constitutional amendments he supported that would have broadened the definition of family and removed language about a womanB次元官网网址檚 role at home were headed toward rejection in early vote tallies.

Varadkar, who pushed the vote to enshrine gender equality in the constitution by removing B次元官网网址渧ery old-fashioned languageB次元官网网址� and trying to recognize the realities of modern family life, said it was clear the amendments were B次元官网网址渄efeated comprehensively on a respectable turnout.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t was our responsibility to convince the majority of people to vote B次元官网网址榶esB次元官网网址� and we clearly failed to do so,B次元官网网址� Varadkar said.

Opponents argued that the wording of the changes was poorly thought out B次元官网网址� an argument that appeared to have gained traction in the final days of the campaign. Voters said they were confused by the questions and others said they feared changes would lead to unintended consequences.

The election was viewed as part of IrelandB次元官网网址檚 evolution from a conservative, overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country in which divorce and abortion were illegal, to an increasingly diverse and socially liberal society. The proportion of residents who are Catholic fell from 94.9% in 1961 to 69% in 2022, according to the Central Statistics Office.

The social transformation has been reflected in a series of changes to IrelandB次元官网网址檚 Constitution, which dates from 1937, though the country was not formally known as the Republic of Ireland until 1949. Irish voters legalized divorce in a 1995 referendum, backed same-sex marriage in a 2015 vote and repealed a ban on abortions in 2018.

The first question dealt with a part of the constitution that pledges to protect the family as the primary unit of society. Voters were asked to remove a reference to marriage as the basis B次元官网网址渙n which the family is foundedB次元官网网址� and replace it with a clause that said families can be founded B次元官网网址渙n marriage or on other durable relationships.B次元官网网址� If passed, it would have been the constitutionB次元官网网址檚 39th amendment.

A proposed 40th amendment would have removed a reference that a womanB次元官网网址檚 place in the home offered a common good that could not be provided by the state and delete a statement that said mothers shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be obligated to work out of economic necessity if it would neglect their duties at home. It would have added a clause saying the state will strive to support B次元官网网址渢he provision of care by members of a family to one another.B次元官网网址�

The debate was less charged than the arguments over abortion and gay marriage. IrelandB次元官网网址檚 main political parties all supported the changes, including centrist government coalition partners Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and the biggest opposition party, Sinn Fein.

One political party that called for B次元官网网址渘oB次元官网网址� votes was Aont煤, a traditionalist group that split from Sinn Fein over the larger partyB次元官网网址檚 backing for legal abortion. Aont煤 leader Peadar T贸ib铆n said the governmentB次元官网网址檚 wording was so vague it will lead to legal wrangles and most people B次元官网网址渄o not know what the meaning of a durable relationship is.B次元官网网址�

The Free Legal Advice Centers, a legal charity, expressed concern the change to the section on care contained B次元官网网址渉armful stereotypes such as the concept that the provision of care B次元官网网址� is the private responsibility of unpaid family members without any guarantee of state support.B次元官网网址�

Some disability rights campaigners argued the emphasis on care treats disabled people as a burden, rather than as individuals with rights that should be guaranteed by the state.

Opinion polls had suggested support for the B次元官网网址測esB次元官网网址� side on both votes, but many voters remained undecided as FridayB次元官网网址檚 polling B次元官网网址� held on International WomenB次元官网网址檚 Day B次元官网网址� neared and some said they found the issue too confusing or too hurried to change the constitution.

B次元官网网址淚 thought it was too rushed,B次元官网网址� said Una Ui Dhuinn, a nurse in Dublin. B次元官网网址淚 felt we didnB次元官网网址檛 get enough time to think about it and read up on it. So I felt, to be on the safe side, B次元官网网址榥o, noB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� no change.B次元官网网址�

Caoimhe Doyle, a doctoral student, said she voted yes to changing the definition of family but no to the care amendment because B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think it was explained very well.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a worry there that theyB次元官网网址檙e removing the burden on the state to take care of families,B次元官网网址� she said.

Michael Kealy And Brian Melley, The Associated Press