Spanish lawmakers amend sexual consent law, straining ruling coalition

FILE PHOTO: Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration against a Spanish court which sentenced five of six men accused of gang-raping a 14-year-old girl to 10 to 12 years in prison for sexually abusing the minor, but acquitted them of rape, outside the Justice Ministry in Madrid, Spain, November 4, 2019. The placards read: "You're not alone" and "It's not abuse, it's rape." REUTERS/Sergio Perez/File Photo

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's lower house on Thursday passed changes to a contentious sexual violence law, widening a rift within the ruling coalition as the Socialists and their hard-left partner Unidas Podemos (UP) split into opposite camps during the vote.

The law, known as "Only Yes is Yes" and the flagship policy of the UP-led equality ministry, was approved in August and touted as a milestone for women's' rights as it focused on the concept of consent.