Czech MPs Approve Law
on Same - Sex
Partnerships
By REUTERS, from the
NYTimes on the Web, December 16, 2005
PRAGUE -- The lower house of
the Czech parliament approved a law legalizing civil partnerships for same-sex
couples on Friday, in spite of strong opposition inside Prime Minister Jiri
Paroubek's coalition government.
The Christian Democrats, the second largest group in the three-party government,
refused to support the legislation saying it damaged the traditional perception
of the family.
However, many Communist Party deputies sided with Paroubek's left-wing Social
Democrats, the main government party, to approve the bill, which could face a
rough ride in the opposition-dominated Senate.
According to a lower house press official, 86 of the 147 deputies present voted
in favor of the law while 54 were against and the rest abstained. Fifty-three
others were not present during the vote.
Paroubek, attending an EU summit, was not present, although he supported the
law.
The new rules allow same-sex couples to officially register -- and terminate --
their relationship. It also allows access to information on the health of a gay
partner.
If the Senate rejects the legislation, the lower house can override it with an
absolute majority of 101 in the 200-seat lower house.
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