On Friday, the German Parliament legalized same gender marriage. This decision came days after Chancellor Angela Merkel announced she will let her conservative law makers follow their conscience for the vote.
The legal code followed by Germany was today changed to “marriage is entered into for life by two people of different or the same gender.” This bill was unanimously supported by the left parties.
This reforms grants full marital rights which includes these couples having the power to adopt children. This has been allowed since 2001 but as civil unions. The lower house of Parliament passed this bill by a 393-226 margin. The upper house of Germany has passed this bill already and is expected to be enforced by the end of 2017.
This bill is crucial for the elections, which are supposed to be held this year. Hence was it pushed by Merkel’s leftist rivals who took a U turn after she made an on stage interview Monday. This is a move that left many of her conservative lawmakers fuming.
