Marino same-sex marriage row rumbles on

(ANSA) - Rome, October 21 - Catholic political movement Italia Cristiana on Tuesday registered a formal complaint against Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino for transcribing 16 gay marriages contracted abroad in city hall in contravention of State law, calling for the centre-left politician to be removed from his post.
    Marino "not only violated the principles of correctness, loyalty and proper working of the public administration, but he also became responsible for the crime of abuse of office," wrote lawyer Massimiliano Tedeschi in the complaint. Italia Cristiana claims Rome's mayor, a member of Premier Matteo Renzi's Democratic Party (PD), violated constitutional and civil norms safeguarding heterosexual marriage in transgression of the constitution and orders from the interior ministry and Rome prefecture. Interior Minister Angelino Alfano ordered Rome Prefect Giuseppe Pecoraro to annul the transcription after Marino made known his intention to transcribe the marriage certificates of five lesbian couples and 11 gay couples in city hall on Saturday in the absence of a law recognising same-sex unions in Italy. Also on Tuesday consumer association Codacons said it was pursuing legal action to block a formal request for Marino to void the transcriptions, presented by the prefect on Monday.