The Irish approval of same-sex
marriage in Saturday's historic referendum has split Italian
political parties with conservatives fighting against a similar
move in Italy and progressives saying the time has come to step
into line with most of the rest of Europe.
"Only us, Greece, Cyprus and six ex-Communist countries
still deny rights to gays," said Roberto Speranza, former House
whip for the ruling Democratic Party (PD).
"Society is ahead (of us politicians)," he said, "and the
PD must ignore conservatives".
PD leader and Premier Matteo Renzi vowed to move forward on
bills that have been languishing in parliament amid a raft of
amendments from Catholic conservatives.
Reiterating his opposition, New Centre Right leader
Angelino Alfano, the interior minister, said "gay union can
never be equated with real marriages".
Alfano said No, in particular, to adoptions by gay couples
and the reversibility of pensions.
However he said his party, a junior government partner,
would back property rights being shared by members of civil
unions.
Centre right leader Silvio Berlusconi reiterated that he
was in favour of gays getting "similar" rights to non-gays but
several members of his Forza Italia party said they would back
restrictive amendments to the bills.
Reform Minister Maria Elena Boschi, of the PD, said it was
"high time" to bring Italy into line with other "forward-looking
countries".
With its referendum, in which almost two thirds of a once
highly Catholic electorate voted in favour, Ireland became the
first country to approve same-sex marriage by popular vote.
Gay groups hailed the Irish vote and called for politicians
to "catch up with the sentiment of civil society".
Many echoed British 'national treasure' Stephen Fry in
saying "Oscar Wilde would be proud of his country".
Most polls show Italians favouring same-sex marriage by a
wide margin.
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