Other divisive questions such as whether same-sex couples should have the right to free reproductive assistance, and the rights of same-sex couples who aren't married to adopt will be tackled in a "complementary law" on the family, he said, allowing further debate on the issue.

CNN: French ministers back draft bill on same-sex marriage

Even if it does, for this law to catch on it will need to be backed up by complementary efforts from many branches of government, if 18m people are to coexist peacefully with a rainforest.

ECONOMIST: Brazil