(ANSA) - Rome, October 12 - Parliamentary sources said
Monday that Premier Matteo Renzi's Democratic Party (PD) is
intent on tabling its civil unions bill in the Senate despite
opposition from junior ruling coalition member, the New Center
Right (NCD) party.
The bill provides same-sex couples with many of the same
rights and responsibilities as straight married couples,
including the right for one spouse in a civil union to adopt the
other spouse's children, as well as the right to inherit a
deceased spouse's pension and property.
"We differ with the NCD on parts of the bill and on the
need to table it soon," said Senate PD whip Luigi Zanda after a
meeting between the two parties. "The PD believes we need to
take it to the Senate floor shortly, NCD has a different
opinion".
Interior Minister Angelino Alfano (NCD) said after the
meeting that his AP caucus (an alliance between NCD and the
small centrist UDC party) will do "loyal" battle against aspects
of Renzi's bill.
"Yes to the recognition of individual property and
inheritance rights, no to child adoptions," he said.
PD 'intends to table civil unions bill' in Senate soon
Opposition disagrees