Surrogacy should be sex crime, says Italy minister

Italy’s acrimonious debate over gay civil unions intensified on Thursday after the interior minister suggested the use of paid surrogate mothers should be treated like a sex crime.

Angelino Alfano’s comments sparked outrage amongst gay rights groups and other supporters of legal recognition and protection for same sex couples, an area in which Italy lags behind its European neighbours.

Mr Alfano, the leader of the New Centre Right party, the junior partner in Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s coalition government, won backing for his stance from conservative politicians and leaders of the Catholic church in Italy.

The row erupted as the Italian Parliament prepares to debate a bill on civil unions which Mr Renzi promised to make a priority after taking over as Prime Minister in February 2014.