HELSINKI, Finland — Finnish lawmakers have approved a legislative proposal to legalize same-sex marriage.
“The Finnish Parliament voted 101-90 in favor of citizens’ initiative for equal marriage rights on Friday 12th December,” according to a statement post on the parliament’s official website.
The initiative was approved the full session at its second reading.
On November 28, the Parliament voted 105-92 to support the “citizens’ initiative” proposal to legalize same-sex marriage. The citizens initiative campaign began in 2013, and marriage equality supporters collected 166,851 signatures, more than three times the 50,000 required by Finnish law to force the parliament to consider the proposal.
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The measure now goes to President Sauli Niinistö for his signature. Niinistö was initially against legalizing same-sex marriage, but has since indicated he will sign the measure.
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Along with the final vote, Parliament also approved a measure requiring next government to prepare these changes in a Government bill during 2015.
Finland has allowed registered same-sex partnerships since 2002.
