House Speaker Laura Boldrini on
Sunday spoke out in favour of Italy granting civil-union status
to same-sex couples, prompting criticism from the centre right
who said she had overstepped the impartiality of her office.
Boldrini called for a law that would not "disappoint the
expectations" of the estimated one million people who turned out
in 100 cities across Italy Saturday in favour of civil unions
and stepchild adoption.
The latter is a sticking point for Catholics on the centre
left and centre right but Premier Matteo Renzi is confident of
winning over critics within his ruling Democratic Party.
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