Italian parliament approves same-sex unions

The Italian parliament cleared the way to approving same-sex civil unions and granting some rights to unmarried heterosexual couples in a confidence vote called by prime minister Matteo Renzi to force the bill into law.

Italy had been the last major Western country not to legally recognise gay couples, and an original draft law had to be heavily diluted due to divisions in Renzi’s ruling majority.

The premier promised to prioritise legislation for gay rights when he took office in early 2014, but the bill proved to be one of the most contested of any he has pushed.