Portuguese Govt says no to gay marriage

The governing Socialist Party will block an attempt by smaller parties to pass legislation allowing same-sex marriages in Portugal, a senior official says.

Socialist parliamentary leader Alberto Martins said his party's lawmakers will be instructed to vote down the proposal.

"An overwhelming majority (of Socialist lawmakers) support the party line," Martins said after a meeting of party officials.

The main opposition Social Democratic Party also opposes legalizing gay and lesbian marriages.

The Left Bloc and Green Party have said they will table a proposal later this month to allow same-sex couples to wed, but together the two parties hold just 10 seats in the 230-seat Parliament.

The Socialists have 121 seats and the Social Democrats have 75.

Gay marriage is permitted in only three European Union nations -- Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain.

The Left Bloc and Green Party argue that the Portuguese Constitution grants equal rights for all and protection against discrimination.

The center-left Socialist Party overcame strong opposition from the Roman Catholic church to legalize abortion last year, saying it was part of the Portugal's process of modernisation.

Some Socialist lawmakers have expressed support for the legalisation of same-sex marriages.

However Prime Minister Jose Socrates, who is also party leader, says the measure was not part of the Socialist manifesto in the 2005 general election and requires endorsement in a national vote.

Same-sex couples who live together for a certain length of time are currently entitled to the same tax and welfare benefits as heterosexual couples.