|
Spaniards Overwhelmingly Approve Of Gay
Marriages
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: January 30, 2008 - 7:30 pm ET
(Madrid) With just over a month before Spain goes
to the polls the Socialist government's same-sex marriage law is causing barely
a ripple in the campaign.
When the law was passed two years ago the
conservative opposition Popular Party joined the Catholic Church and condemned
the move. At the time the PP said it would use the law to defeat the government
of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
Now there is scant mention of opposition, no
doubt the result of polls that show same-sex marriage has broad acceptance.
A public opinion poll released this month by Instituto
Opina shows that nearly 75 percent of those questioned said they are fine with
the law and it should not be repealed. Only 18 percent favor abolishing
the law.
The gay marriage bill was the boldest and most
divisive initiative of the liberal social agenda Zapatero has embarked on since
taking office in April 2004.
The Roman Catholic Church, which held much sway
over the government just a generation ago when Gen. Francisco Franco was in
power, had adamantly opposed gay marriage. In its first display of
anti-government activism in 20 years, it endorsed a Madrid rally in which
hundreds of thousands marched in opposition to the bill. Some 20 bishops took
part.
When the law was passed it earned Zapatero a
stern rebuke from the Vatican.
Earlier this month when Zapatero called elections
for March 9 he said that the same-sex marriage law was one of his greatest
achievements.
But despite public support for the law his
left-of-center government is facing stiff competition from the PP.
The most recent poll shows the two parties in a
dead heat.
Spain's economy, for more than a decade one of
the most vibrant in Europe, is cooling off and inflation is running at more than
four per cent, so the economy has become a major campaign issue.
©365Gay.com 2008
|
Entertainment
