Poland's ruling party is expected to
introduce legislation which would recognize gay and lesbian couples
with civil partnerships.
The Platforma Obywatelska (PO) Party
decided last week to propose the legislation after several months of
debate, according to Gay Star News.
The draft bill is similar to France's
PACS and would offer inheritance, pension funds, notary and medical
rights to partners, but couples could not file joint tax returns and
would remain banned from jointly adopting a child.
France's recently elected Socialist
government has promised to legalize gay marriage in 2013.
The move surprised political analysts
since last year the PO opposed similar proposals introduced by
liberal parties.
Conservative ranks within the PO and
right wing parties are expected to object to the bill. But Gay
Star News reported that neither President Bronislaw
Komorowski, an independent, nor Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the
co-founder and chairman of the PO, have expressed opposition to the
proposed law.
Currently, Poland does not recognize
the relationships of gay and lesbian couples and the republic's
constitution defines marriage as a heterosexual union.