Bill on legalizing marriage for same sex couples approved in first reading

The Chamber of Deputies has nodded to a bill that would legalize marriage for same sex couples. The bill was approved in its first reading, after four failed attempts in the past, and remains highly controversial. MPs were involved in heated debates primarily as to whether the union of same-sex couples should be called a "marriage" or something entirely different. The issue is dividing parties across the political spectrum. The draft will now be submitted to the members of the Constitutional Law Committee for consideration. It will have four months to review the draft instead of the usual two.