on 13 march 2010, the president asked the constitutional court to verify whether the bill was constitutional. on 8 april 2010, the portuguese constitutional court ruled (11–2) for the constitutionality of the bill, with three members concluding that the constitution required the recognition of same-sex marriages. the ruling was published in the official gazette on 28 april, giving president aníbal cavaco silva twenty days to sign, or veto, the bill.