President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca signed the Civil Unions Bill yesterday, this paper has learnt. Ms Coleiro Preca was asked to sign the law after it was approved by Parliament on Monday evening.

All Opposition MPs abstained, with PN Leader Simon Busuttil explaining that the PN was in favour of Civil Unions but could not endorse gay adoptions, which are included in the same Bill. The PN has been stating for the past months that the country is not prepared for gay adoptions and not much is known on the subject. All government MPs voted in favour. Thousands of members of the gay community celebrated the historic step in St George’s square after the vote.

The next step is for the Bill to come into effect my means of Legal Notices. Gay and heterosexual couples will then be able to apply for a Civil Union, thus officially registering their relationship, which will now be recognised by the state.