你對於法國合法非婚同居PACS的看法?(Chinese and English)

現任法國總統弗朗索瓦·奥朗德(François Hollande，1954生)，一生沒有結婚，但是一直有伴侶、有子女、有家庭生活，一切生活都很正常，當他更換伴侶時，簡單平和順利，沒有打鬧爭吵、沒有被社會批判不道德、不負責任，他依然能選上一國的總統。

在歐洲，法國是最高的生育率的國家，因為法國完善的工作保障及托育制度，還有兩性平權的觀念。讓婚姻制度不再是年輕人相愛唯一的最後選擇。何謂合法非婚同居，就類似合法伴侶制度。主要是為了不想結婚但又想住在一起的男女，或是同性伴侶所設計的一項關係制度。法國法律在1999年11月15日將同居定義為『兩名異性或同性者之間存在的穩定持續的共同生活關系』。同居和婚姻的不同在於，同居者是法律意義上的未婚者，而後者是已婚者。以歐洲國家為實例，對於婚姻結合和家庭概念仍大相徑庭，多數的南歐國家如義大利、西班牙和葡萄牙，想法和觀念與亞洲較為相近，所以和亞洲人一樣無法接受非婚同居，甚至是未婚生子的行為。

相反的如法國、挪威、瑞典、丹麥對於非婚同居、未婚生子或單親家庭的接受度較高，兩性平等的社會觀念普及，也因此這些國家的生育率都超過了50%，法國的出生率更位居歐洲之冠。當然這個觀念必定被台灣衛道人士批判，因為亞洲國家的確民風還是很傳統。在法國，這種合法同居制度被婚姻制度取代嗎?沒有的。但很受年輕一代歡迎。它簡化許多繁文縟節。但具合法性。伴侶制(PACS)是一種比同居多一些「名分」。而在法國社會接受這樣制度的年輕人95%是異性戀者。所謂自由在一起，自由分開。讓愛情其實也可以很簡單，同居及單親媽媽獲得政府福利保障。也不會受到社會異樣即排斥眼光。這可能與民族性及民風有關。真的感受到”艾菲爾鐵塔式的自由又充滿浪漫的自由主義。”

我認為台灣的生育率在全世界224國家，排名在222名。因為政府也沒有很重視少子化問題，也沒有徹底改善年輕族群戀愛觀念教育及完善婚姻環境。當然，傳統的婚姻觀念在亞洲國家深耕已經數百年以上。年輕人很希望擁有一份既自由又獲得保障的愛情，但就人類學觀念告訴我們一段婚姻要走到最後是非常難做到的事。老實說”我們並不是神”我現在終於懂了為甚麼在法國外遇不會被批判。因為人類天生愛浪漫。

我問過一個每個人正式走入愛情的事。有個女生告訴我”她真正的去信任一個男人可以給她幸福，而這樣幸福不一定被婚姻制度才證明?”你認同嗎?

法國正式立法的伴侶制度，是不是東方社會國家可以考慮引進？供適合的人來選用，而不是只有現行婚姻制度的唯一選擇？（PACS，Le Pacte Civil de Solidarité，「公民結合契約」）

April Yang

Translation by Andy Hoggan

What do you think of the legal non-marital cohabitation PACS (pacte civil de solidarité) in France?

The current French President, François Hollande (born in 1954), has never been married, but has always had a partner, children, and family life. Everything appears to be normal, and when he changes partners, it is simple and smooth, without causing quarrels, or being criticized by the society as being immoral and irresponsible. What’s more, he can still be elected as the president of the country.

In Europe, France is the country with the highest fertility rate. This is due to France’s excellent job security, childcare system, and the concept of gender equality. These allow the marriage system to no longer be the only choice for young people who fall in love. Legal, non-marital cohabitation is similar to the legal partner system. It is a relationship system designed mainly for men and women who do not want to get married but want to live together, or same-sex couples. French law defined cohabitation on November 15, 1999 as "a stable and continuous living relationship between two people of the opposite sex or same sex." The difference between cohabitation and marriage is that a cohabitant is an unmarried person in the legal sense, and the latter is a legally married person. Taking European countries as an example, the concept of marriage and family is still very different. Most southern European countries such as Italy, Spain and Portugal have similar ideas and concepts as Asia, meaning, they don’t accept unmarried cohabitation, even if it involves unborn children. This is similar to the behavior of Asians.

On the contrary, France, Norway, Sweden and Denmark have a higher acceptance of non-marital cohabitation, children born out of wedlock, or single-parent families. Moreover, the social concept of gender equality is popular there too. These are the reasons the fertility rate in these countries has exceeded 50%, and the birth rate in France has the highest ranking in Europe. It is natural for this concept to be criticized by defenders of Taiwanese culture, because Asian countries are indeed very traditional. In France, has this legal cohabitation system replaced the marriage system? No. But it is very popular with the younger generation because it cuts through a lot of red tape, and it is legal. The partner system (PACS) is a kind of "privilege" and is more than just cohabitation. 95% of young people who live this system in French society are heterosexuals. They reflect the idea of “freedom to be together, freedom to separate.” It allows for making love to be very simple. Cohabitation and single mothers receive government welfare protection and are not rejected by society. This may be related to national character and folk customs. I can really relate with the idea of the "Eiffel Tower-style freedom and rich romantic liberalism."

I believe Taiwan’s fertility rate ranks 222nd in 224 countries around the world. This is because the government has not paid much attention to the problem of declining birthrates, nor has it made strides forward in promoting education to young people regarding successful romantic relationships, and healthy marital environments. The traditional concept of marriage has been cultivated in Asian countries for hundreds of years. Young people hope to have a love that is both free and guaranteed, but anthropological understanding reveals that it is very difficult for marriages to last. Quite frankly, no relationship is godly and perfect. I now finally understand why an affair in France will not be criticized. It is because human beings naturally love romance.

I once posed a question about what is needed for someone entering a serious romantic relationship. A girl told me she truly trusts a man to give her happiness, and there is no guarantee that the marriage system will provide that happiness. Do you agree?

Can the French partner system be formally legislated or even considered for introduction in Eastern society? Can we have the right to choose who we want to be with, and not be limited with the legal marriage system as the only option? Can we be open to the PACS, civil union contract?