Czech Republic passes same sex unions

Chamber passes same-sex law
Prague- The Czech Republic joined the countries where homosexuals can conclude registered partnership as the Chamber of Deputies overrode President Vaclav Klaus's veto of the legislation.

The law on the unions of the people with the same sex was backed by 101 out of the 177 deputies present.

It was the fifth, successful, attempt at approving the controversial legislation.

Its opponents chiefly argued with the fear of the weakening of traditional family.

Its proponents are not afraid of this. They say there is no reason for a part of citizens not to have the same rights as the rest only because of a different sexual orientation.

President Vaclav Klaus is of the view that the law too much extends the state intervention in human lives. He said that it had nothing to do with the freedom of minorities as argued by Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek (Social Democrats, CSSD).

The debate on the law brought about another political dispute between Klaus and Paroubek. Paroubek made a great effort to have the legislation passed. He wanted all of his Social Democrats to back the legislation, which eventually did not happen.