ITALY: ITALIANS VOTE IN FOUR-PART REFERENDUM ON REPEALING A RESTRICTIVE FERTILITY LAW

Record ID: 328738

  • Title: ITALY: ITALIANS VOTE IN FOUR-PART REFERENDUM ON REPEALING A RESTRICTIVE FERTILITY LAW
  • Date: 12th June 2005
  • Summary: (BN08) ROME, ITALY (JUNE 12, 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS EXTERIOR POLLING STATION (2 SHOTS) 0.10 2. SV WOMAN REGISTERING 0.15 3. SV BALLOT PAPERS/WOMAN TAKING BALLOT PAPERS/WALKS TO VOTING BOOTH 0.27 4. SV WOMAN PLACING BALLOTS 0.35 5. CLOSE-UP OF BOX FOR FIRST POINT (LIMITATIONS ON CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH ON EMBRYOS) 0.39 6. SV WOMAN TAKING BALLOT PAPERS 0.50 7. SV WOMAN REGISTERING 0.52 8. SV WOMAN PLACING BALLOTS 1.00 9. CU BALLOT BOX 1.04 10. MCU (Italian) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN VOTER SAYING: "I voted four "yes", for many reasons. While I was voting I was thinking about some people. If I told you their names it would mean nothing, but for me it means a lot. For me they are people with a lot of problems and they can find a possible answer in this referendum." 1.18 11. SLV PEOPLE ENTERING POLLING STATION 1.23 12. MCU (Italian) ELDERLY WOMAN VOTER SAYING: "(Answering question: do you think it was right to carry out this referendum?) It's necessary, really necessary. Let's hope.... I saw a few (people voting). (How did you vote?) Yes. How can you say no? Are you joking? A woman who can't have a child? This is a big help. Then, we'll see." 1.48 13. MCU (Italian) UNIDENTIFIED MALE VOTER SAYING: "(Responding to question on how he voted). Let's just say I voted. (Question: was this referendum right?) Yes. I think it was correct and the main thing is that I voted before midday." 1.58 14. SV WOMAN PLACING BALLOTS (2 SHOTS) 2.11 15. SLV POLLING STATION 2.13 16. SV WOMAN REGISTERING/TAKING BALLOTS 2.27 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 27th June 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA4U298D02ORS5XB7ZR0K7A3DFR
  • Story Text: Italians vote in four-part referendum on repealing a
    restrictive fertility law.



    Italians on Sunday (June 12) began voting in a
    referendum to overturn restrictive fertility laws approved
    last year.

    The poll has shattered traditional political alliances
    and elicited emotional appeals from church pulpits.

    The number of infertile couples seeking help abroad has
    tripled since lawmakers in Roman Catholic Italy crossed
    party lines last year to approve one of Europe's most
    restrictive laws on assisted reproduction.

    They wanted to crack down on what many saw as a medical
    'Wild West' where a 62-year-old woman had became a mother
    and a maverick doctor bragged about cloning babies.

    Opponents of the law have joined forces to promote the
    four-pronged referendum. But the church has called on
    Italians to boycott the vote and Pope Benedict made two
    public appeals, praising clergy for trying to "enlighten
    the choices of Catholics."
    People are being asked to vote on four points: "Yes"
    votes would lift a ban on egg and sperm donors; allow
    embryo freezing and research; and remove limits on the
    number of eggs that can be fertilised during each attempt.

    The referendum also aims to change language that gives
    embryos full legal rights and prevents diagnosis for
    genetic disorders before they are transferred to the uterus
    -- even though women can then abort a foetus that has
    disorders.

    "I voted four "yes", for many reasons. While I was voting I was
    th
    inking about some people. If I told you
    their names it would mean nothing, but for me it means a
    lot. For me they are people with a lot of problems and they
    can find a possible answer in this referendum," said a
    woman after voting.

    "It's necessary, really necessary," agreed another
    voter. "How can you say no? Are you joking? A woman who
    can't have a child? This is a big help," she added.

    The issue has shattered political alliances and made
    strange bedfellows of its critics.

    Equal Opportunities Minister Stefania Prestigiacomo was
    the first government leader to break ranks with Prime
    Minister Silvio Berlusconi's administration, condemning the
    law and urging "yes" votes in the referendum. She described
    it as an attack on women's rights, warning that if the
    referendum did not pass, the law could become untouchable
    and even raise questions about the legality of abortion.

    Berlusconi has kept his views to himself, but he joked
    that the referendum's mid-summer date -- which critics say
    was a move by the government to ensure low turnout -- could
    "spark a row" with his wife Veronica, who is pro-referendum.

    If less than 50 percent of voters participate in the
    ballot it will not be valid.

    A failed referendum would be seen by many as a victory
    for the new pontiff at a time when the Church is losing
    influence in countries like Spain.

    Polls show most Italians oppose the law but may not
    feel strongly enough about it to sacrifice a weekend at the
    beach.




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