Ciotti says no to gay marriage

"I will not vote for this law," says Eric Ciotti about legalising gay marriage and adoption

The member of the UMP Party (Union pour un Mouvement Populaire) and President of the General Council for Alpes Maritimes, Eric Ciotti, was quizzed by the media at the port of Nice on his opinion of Socialist government plans to legalise gay marriage and adoption in 2013. He told reporters that he "will not vote in favour of the law."

This year's religious holiday on 15th August, which marks the ascension of the Virgin Mary to heaven, has been fraught with controversy. The Catholic Church reinstated a centuries-old tradition - a prayer to be read nationwide, this time speaking out against the Socialist party's proposals to legalise gay marriage and adoption.They made an appeal to the faithful to pray for the "protection" of the sacrament of marriage.

Ciotti said he was "personally very shocked" by government plans to boycott the Assumption Day ceremony, saying that it was "an act of intolerance". He told reporters: "We should respect religion... The Catholic Church has the right to speak on this important subject." 

Estrosi adopted a less direct approach, saying "I respect the Bishop's words, it is important to be respectful of the Catholics' views."

Meanwhile, Christine Boutin, President of the Christian Democratic Party in France, has called for a national referendum on gay marriage and adoption, saying it is a serious subject and should have the backing of the French people.

A survey released this week by the Institut Français d'Opinion Publique shows that while the right remains divided on gay marriage (46 per cent of UMP support, 54 per cent oppose), 81 per cent of the left are in favour. On a national scale, 65 per cent of French people support gay marriage, while 53 per cent support the adoption of children by homosexual couples.

Emma Hawcroft