Rome - Italy's parliament has approved a motion that obliges the Romano Prodi government to draft a bill extending the rights of de facto couples - including same-sex unions - by February 15.The motion, submitted by members of Prodi's centre-left Union alliance, received 301 votes in favour, 266 against and 10 abstentions in parliament's lower house late Wednesday.
Plans to introduce so-called 'civil pacts of solidarity' (PACS), along the lines of similar legislation adopted by France in 1999, have been met with strong resistance in overwhelmingly Catholic Italy, particularly from the Vatican.
Pope Benedict XVI has repeatedly condemned them as 'pseudo-matrimony' and has been urging legislators to defend traditional families.
Prodi's coalition vowed to introduce PACS in its electoral programme but needs to overcome strong opposition from within its ranks. One of its members, the small but influential Catholic- inspired UDEUR party, voted against Wednesday's motion.
Prodi can rely on a comfortable majority in the Chamber of Deputies but enjoys only a one-vote majority in the Senate. But while the UDEUR has three senators, Prodi can generally count on the support of five or six life-appointed senators who have sided with the government in recent votes.
Political analysts also note that while most centre-right opposition lawmakers oppose PACS, liberals within Silvio Berlusconi's House of Freedoms alliance may decide to vote in favour of the bill, should a secret ballot be held in parliament.
Franco Grillini, a Democratic Left MP who campaigns for gay and lesbian rights, welcomed the approval of Wednesday's motion, saying parliament had dealt a blow to homophobia.
PACS are 'contracts' drawn up between two individuals who are in a stable relationship. Those who subscribe them enjoy greater rights and responsibilities, but less so than marriage.
Newspaper reports Thursday said the government was working on a draft bill that was expected to be discussed in a cabinet meeting taking place on Friday or next week at the latest.
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