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19 March 2004
MADRID – Spanish Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said he was in favour of allowing same-sex marriage, it was reported Friday.
His government will draft a law to put gay unions and marriage on an equal footing, he told Spain’s Telecinco television channel.
He said same-sex marriage was a characteristic of a “modern and tolerant society”.
The conservative outgoing government of the Popular Party had rejected several calls to allow same-sex marriages.
Zapatero swept to a surprise victory in general elections Sunday.
Legalising gay unions was one of his campaign pledges.
In the interview he did not set a time-frame for the change.
Spain is an overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country and the Vatican condemns same-sex marriages.
Subject: Spanish news