ROME -- Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has announced that the 'stepchild adoption' bid will be removed from the bill regarding same-sex unions, to be presented to the government in the coming week.

 Renzi told the Democratic Party conference that "despite the difficulties arising from the numbers in Senate we must go ahead on the theme of rights. On the maxi-amendment we can try with confidence to approve the law in the Senate within a week at the maximum, and two months in the Chamber of Deputies."

 The decision comes after months of deliberation over the proposal of a law regarding same-sex unions and stepchild adoption in Italy, provoking strong sentiment from both sides. Chronic uncertainty regarding the outcome of the vote in parliament has causes repeated delays from the date originally set. It is hoped that the current amendment, without the controversial stepchild adoption clause, will stand a greater chance of passing.

 Renzi told Radio station RTL 102.5 that "my proposal is to finalise the legislation within the week, quickly, with a provision on same-sex unions in the Senate and then for it to go immediately to the Chamber of Deputies."

 He cited his reasoning for the turn-around, explaining that those supportive of the stepchild adoption clause in the Senate would not have provided the necessary numbers for the vote to be successful.

 The issue has caused a clash between Renzi's Democratic Party [DP] and Beppe Grillo's Movimento 5 Stelle [Five Star Movement] party, after Grillo announced he would leave those in his party to vote as they wished. Renzi accused M5S of "making fun" of the PD after it became clear they would not all support the same-sex unions bill.

 Roberto Fico and Luigi di Maio, from the M5S, retorted in a press conference that "We are there on same-sex unions. Renzi and the PD are scared of Parliament and they are blocking people's rights. Behind the new maxi-amendment are hiding internal disputes and a majority without numbers."

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