Portugal President Anibal Cavaco Silva
has vetoed a bill recently approved by lawmakers that granted full
adoption rights to gay and lesbian couples.
The legislation gave gay couples the
same adoption rights as straight couples.
Silva called the change radical and in
need of broader public consultation. He said that he was uncertain
whether the changes were in the best interest of children.
Portugal in 2010 became the eighth
country in the world to allow gay couples to marry. Silva signed the
law approved by the Portuguese Parliament.
Silva's veto was announced on Monday,
along with a second veto of a bill that sought to loosen abortion
restrictions.
A two-thirds majority of Parliament is
needed to overturn Silva's vetoes.