Italian MPs back same-sex unions in vote for Renzi

Italy's parliament has backed same-sex civil unions in a vote of confidence for centre-left Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

Until Wednesday's vote Italy had been the last major Western democracy not to legally recognise gay partnerships.

The issue has been highly controversial in Italy, amid staunch opposition from Catholic conservatives.

MPs in the lower house voted 369-193 for the government, ensuring that the civil unions bill will become law.

Ahead of the vote, Mr Renzi wrote on Facebook that "today is a day of celebration for so many".

Final approval of civil unions is expected later on Wednesday, but that vote by MPs is seen as a formality, as the confidence vote was the crucial hurdle.

After many delays the civil unions bill was watered down in order to secure the necessary support. A clause that would have enabled gay people to adopt their partner's children was dropped.

But it does grant committed gay couples some of the same legal protections currently enjoyed by heterosexual married couples, such as the right to receive a deceased partner's pension.

'A first step'

Last year, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Italy had violated human rights by failing to offer enough legal protection for same-sex couples.

In February this year the Italian Senate - the upper house - approved the civil unions bill, after the text had been watered down.

The bill's main sponsor, Democratic Party (PD) Senator Monica Cirinna, called the compromise version a "hollow victory" and only "a first step".

"This is a very important measure, but I am also thinking of the children of so many friends," she said, referring to the concession over gay adoptions.

There is no blanket ban on adoption, but family judges will decide on a case-by-case basis.

In another concession to conservative opponents, a requirement for gay couples to pledge loyalty was dropped from the bill. That was to put distance between the new civil unions and marriage vows.

Critics say the bill lacks some of the legal guarantees enshrined in civil unions in other European countries, the US and Canada.