Democratic Party (PD) President
Matteo Orfini said Monday he was in favour of stepchild adoption
for same-sex couples, but that it doesn't necessarily have to be
regulated in the civil unions bill currently before the Senate.
"I share what (Reform Undersecretary Ivan) Scalfarotto
said: better a scrapping than a fantastical rewriting of the
stepchild clause," Orfini said.
Opponents to the measure allowing partners in a civil
union to adopt each other's biological children, including
junior government partner New Centre Right (NCD), fear it will
pave the way for surrogate motherhood, even though this is
banned in Italy under a separate law.
The debate around surrogacy is "complicated", Orfini said.
"The issue must be addressed in Italy and techniques can be
studied to make it more difficult, but a European and global
battle is also needed to make it clear that the principle is
unacceptable," he added.
Orfini said the PD had been "wrong" to trust in support
from the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (MS5) party.
"We took up the challenge. We came to the decisive week and
with an excuse they changed their mind, maybe because of opinion
polls. At that point we found ourselves in a tricky situation
and we are at a crossroads," Orfini said.
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