Don’t miss the latest developments in business and finance.

Portugal lawmakers overturn veto on gay rights, abortion law

Image
AP Lisbon
Last Updated : Feb 10 2016 | 10:32 PM IST
Left-of-centre parties in Portugal's Parliament have used their majority to overturn presidential vetoes on bills that granted adoption rights to same-sex couples and removed some abortion restrictions.
The legal changes give gay couples the same adoption rights as heterosexuals and waive mandatory counselling and payments for women seeking an abortion.
Lawmakers with the governing Socialist Party and its allies in the Communist Party and radical Left Bloc voted Wednesday to keep the abortion changes. Some members of center-right parties also supported lifting the alterations on adoption.
The right-of-centre head of state used his veto powers last month to block the legislation following Parliament's initial approval of it in November. The new laws will now come into force later this month.

More From This Section

First Published: Feb 10 2016 | 10:32 PM IST

Next Story