The mayor of Rome said he would
respond "when I know the cards" when asked Thursday whether he
planned to take controversial gay marriage issue to the European
Court of Human Rights.
"In this moment, the legal office of city hall is studying
the juridical aspects, but what counts more for me as mayor are
the aspects my community's life," Ignazio Marino added, speaking
from the margins of a school inauguration in Rome.
Marino walked into contested, administrative no-man's land
earlier this week when he transcribed 16 same-sex marriages
legally performed abroad at the Rome prefecture.
Marino made the move in defiance of a mandate issued by
Interior Minister Angelino Alfano banning the official
acknowledgement by city mayors in prefectures across the
country.
In Italy, civil unions between same-sex partners are not
yet nationally recognized, much less marriage, which is defined
as a union between a man and a woman. However the recognition of
same-sex marriages performed abroad, especially in countries
with which Italy is bound by treaties, the question is subject
to debate.
"Certainly, I performed an act that is not revolutionary,
but a transcription of documents that were written in other
countries of the European Community or in North America. The
prefect is responding to an invitation by the interior
minister," said Marino.
Roman Prefect Giuseppe Pecoraro on Tuesday formally
"invited" Marino to withdraw the gay marriage transcriptions to
"avoid irregularities on the civil status registry" and
explained that the prefecture would have to impose state norms
in the case.
Pecoraro and Marino shook hands Tuesday as it was generally
acknowledged that the validity of the transcriptions would
undergo formal scrutiny if Marino did not withdraw them.
Marino in his defiance of the interior minister joins a
number of mayors across Italy, including those of Milan,
Bologna, Udine and Grosseto.
He has received support from gay activists and lawyers of
couples whose marriages were transcribed, but the Catholic
political movement Italia Cristiana on Tuesday registered a
formal complaint against Marino for contravening State law. The
movement also called for the centre-left politician to be
removed from his post.
"Transcribe gay marriages? No, it's a farce because it
doesn't mean anything," said Giovanni Toti, a centre-right EMP
for the Forza Italia party and political advisor to ex-premier
Silvio Berlusconi.
"Marino is doing a political maneuver with couples that
lend themselves to it. Like Alfano, who is playing with the
skins of people who are waiting for a law, however," added Toti,
speaking to the Radio 24 programme Zanzara (mosquito).
"We're waiting for text, but I am in favour of a law on
civil unions," said Toti.
Premier Matteo Renzi has announced that a bill regarding
same-sex unions and family rights will be presented by the end
of October.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
