(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in Spain believe the conservative Popular Party (PP) should not seek to ban a law that grants official recognition to gay and lesbian partnerships, according to a poll by Instituto Opina released by Cadena Ser. 60 per cent of respondents believe the party's proposed legal recourse is a negative development.

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was sworn in as president of the government in April 2004, following a victory for the Socialist Worker's Party (PSOE) in the legislative ballot. The PP had administered the government under José María Aznar since 1996.

In April, the PSOE-dominated Congress of Deputies approved a bill that would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry, divorce and adopt children. In June, the bill became law after a 187-147 vote. Spain became the third country in Europe—after Belgium and the Netherlands—to permit same-sex marriage.

Last month, current PP leader Mariano Rajoy signalled his intention to launch a legal challenge to the same-sex marriage law, declaring, "This is not about removing anyone's rights, but it is a different thing when these unions are defined as marriages." Rajoy's 2004 campaign platform included a proposal to allow civil unions.

Polling Data

The Popular Party (PP) has presented a legal recourse that seeks to ban same-sex marriage. Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

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