they actually kept their promise

Wow, for once (okay some other times when the national football team plays and when you read news in a foreign language about Portugal or portuguese people) I felt proud to be portuguese. The majority left-wing with seats in Parliment approved today a law on gay marriage - not a civil union, but yes - marriage! It's only the sixth country in Europe to do so. And probably the most Roman Catholic of the Old Continent! The Socialist Party which won the last elections in November had promised to propose this law, if they won the re-election.

"LISBON, Portugal - Portugal's parliament passed a bill Friday that would make the predominantly Catholic nation the sixth in Europe to permit gay marriage. Conservative President Anibal Cavaco Silva is thought unlikely to veto the Socialist government's bill, which won the support of all left-of-center parties. His ratification would allow the first gay marriage ceremonies to take place in April — a month before Pope Benedict XVI is due on an official visit to Portugal. Right-of-center parties opposed the change and sought a national referendum on the issue, but their proposal was rejected and the government's bill was passed by 125 votes to 99."