The vote to again delay the debate came after three hours of discussion. U Party Senator Juan Restrepo suggested the delay, declaring that the importance of the issue to the country warranted a public broadcast. Additionally, the internal television signal transmitting the debate to the House of Representatives had begun to suffer technical difficulties, which further added weight to the proposed delay.
Restrepo’s proposition was subsequently passed by 35 votes to 30, and the next debate is to be televised on Tuesday April 23 on the government’s “Canal Institucional” station, which is accessible country-wide via terrestrial television, and on the internet.
Benedetti was referring to a 2011 ruling by the Constitutional Court, which stated that if no legislation is passed by June 20, 2013, the decision will be taken out of the hands of the Congress, and homosexual couples will be able to go before courts and notaries to have their partnership recognized.
MORE: Congress ‘divided’ on gay marriage: Senator
The proposed law has provoked a strong reaction from both sides of the debate, with emotions running high after a Congressional forum on the proposal on April 5 ended in a brawl.
MORE: Congressional debate on gay marriage ends in assault (VIDEO)