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 woman香蕉视频直播檚 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 香蕉视频直播渧ery old-fashioned language香蕉视频直播� and trying to recognize the realities of modern family life, said it was clear the amendments were 香蕉视频直播渄efeated comprehensively on a respectable turnout.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t was our responsibility to convince the majority of people to vote 香蕉视频直播榶es香蕉视频直播� and we clearly failed to do so,香蕉视频直播� Varadkar said.

Opponents argued that the wording of the changes was poorly thought out 香蕉视频直播� 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 Ireland香蕉视频直播檚 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 Ireland香蕉视频直播檚 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 Irish voters legalized divorce in a 1995 referendum, backed same-sex marriage in a 2015 vote and repealed a ban on abortions in 2018.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 香蕉视频直播渙n which the family is founded香蕉视频直播� and replace it with a clause that said families can be founded 香蕉视频直播渙n marriage or on other durable relationships.香蕉视频直播� If passed, it would have been the constitution香蕉视频直播檚 39th amendment.

A proposed 40th amendment would have removed a reference that a woman香蕉视频直播檚 place in the home offered a common good that could not be provided by the state and delete a statement that said mothers shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 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 香蕉视频直播渢he provision of care by members of a family to one another.香蕉视频直播�

The debate was less charged than the arguments over abortion and gay marriage. Ireland香蕉视频直播檚 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 香蕉视频直播渘o香蕉视频直播� votes was Aont煤, a traditionalist group that split from Sinn Fein over the larger party香蕉视频直播檚 backing for legal abortion. Aont煤 leader Peadar T贸ib铆n said the government香蕉视频直播檚 wording was so vague it will lead to legal wrangles and most people 香蕉视频直播渄o not know what the meaning of a durable relationship is.香蕉视频直播�

The Free Legal Advice Centers, a legal charity, expressed concern the change to the section on care contained 香蕉视频直播渉armful stereotypes such as the concept that the provision of care 香蕉视频直播� is the private responsibility of unpaid family members without any guarantee of state support.香蕉视频直播�

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 香蕉视频直播測es香蕉视频直播� side on both votes, but many voters remained undecided as Friday香蕉视频直播檚 polling 香蕉视频直播� held on International Women香蕉视频直播檚 Day 香蕉视频直播� neared and some said they found the issue too confusing or too hurried to change the constitution.

香蕉视频直播淚 thought it was too rushed,香蕉视频直播� said Una Ui Dhuinn, a nurse in Dublin. 香蕉视频直播淚 felt we didn香蕉视频直播檛 get enough time to think about it and read up on it. So I felt, to be on the safe side, 香蕉视频直播榥o, no香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� no change.香蕉视频直播�

Caoimhe Doyle, a doctoral student, said she voted yes to changing the definition of family but no to the care amendment because 香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think it was explained very well.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a worry there that they香蕉视频直播檙e removing the burden on the state to take care of families,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Michael Kealy And Brian Melley, The Associated Press