New home affairs minister Liesbeth Spies told MPs on Thursday she will not enact a parliamentary motion calling for civil servants who refuse to carry out gay marriages to be sacked until a government advice group has published its recommendations.

Last year, a majority of MPs voted in favour of the motion, leaving the minority coalition of Christian Democrats and VVD Liberals isolated.
The then home affairs minister Piet Hein Donner had already asked the Council of State to look at the issue before the vote, in what was largely seen as a delaying tactic. He was opposed to change, saying civil servants should be able to opt out if there are other registrars who are willing to marry gay couples.
Ironically, Donner is now in charge of the Council of State.
Delays
Spies told MPs she did not know when the recommendations would be finalised.
The delay gives breathing space to the fundamentalist Christian group, the SGP. The coalition relies on that party’s support in the senate or upper house of parliament. The SGP opposes gay marriage on Biblical principles.
According to research by gay rights campaign group COC last year, 58 local councils employ a total of 102 registrars who refuse to marry same sex couples. Nearly all are orthodox Christians.