イタリア：プロディ中道左派政権は存続へ DICO法案は廃案の見込み

Prodi To Stay On, Gay Unions Bill Appears Dead
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: February 24, 2007 - 4:00 pm ET

(Rome) Italian president Giorgio Napolitano asked Prime Minister Romano Prodi on Saturday to remain in office but face a confidence vote in parliament. Whether or not he survives the vote it appears that a bill to recognize same-sex couples is off the table.

Prodi stepped down Wednesday after an embarrassing parliamentary defeat over foreign policy.

Following two days of meetings with Napolitano and scrambling by Prodi to expand his left-of-center coalition, he has managed to escape, at least for the moment, being thrown out.

But the cost of his new-found allies has been costly for gay couples.

The expanded coalition forced Prodi to agree to a 12-point plan that calls for respecting Italy's international commitments in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and for the construction of a high-speed rail line linking Turin with Lyon, France.

But, in an apparent nod to Catholic moderate lawmakers, the new government program makes no mention of a proposal to grant legal rights to unmarried couples, including gay partners. The proposal has angered the Vatican and drawn the opposition of Catholic politicians.

"I will seek a vote of confidence as soon as possible, with renewed impetus and a united and determined coalition," Prodi said after meeting Saturday with President Napolitano.

Opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi denounced the center-left efforts, saying senators in his center-right coalition were being bandied about as a commodity, and called for new elections.

The opposition "is protesting, and will protest with vigor and will commit in every way to give the country an authoritative majority," Berlusconi said.

Earlier this month Prodi's left-of-center coalition cabinet approved the civil partnership bill in a stormy special meeting (story) and it was expected to be introduced in the Lower House in the next few weeks.

It would have allowed same-sex couples to sign a civil registry and then share pensions, health insurance, enter into contracts, and permit them to be considered the same as married couples for public housing.