French MPs Exchange Insults As Gay Marriage Debate Rumbles On

THE GUARDIAN
By Angelique Chrisafis in Paris

FRANCE---French parliament has begun its second week of a marathon gay marriage debate, with bickering MPs verbally attacking each other day and night, highlighting problems François Hollande faces in his attempts to push through his flagship social reform: the legalisation of gay marriage and adoption. On Saturday, MPs approved the central plank of the new law: that marriage should be an agreement between any two people, not just a man and a woman. But differences remain before the final vote takes place next week. While 55 to 65% of French people say they are in favour of gay marriage, only about 50% support gay adoption, the second part of the law. The biggest sticking points have been the issues of adoption, parental rights and the right to medically assisted procreation for same-sex couples. With the Socialist party holding the majority in the National Assembly and the Senate, the government expects the bill legalising gay marriage and adoption to be passed at the end of April. [link]