Germany Votes – Europe Wins!
Bundestag to vote on Same-Sex Marriage legalization on Friday
UPDATE : Germany has passed the motion with 393 for – 226 against – four abstentions; Merkel voted against.
Surprise U-Turn ahead with Germany’s Christian Democratic Union party softening their views on same-sex marriage. A conscience vote has now been tabled for Friday to revisit the legalization of same-sex marriages. This would allow for full marital rights, such as adoption of children, which is leaps forward from the currently restrictive civil unions permitted for same-sex couples. This comes within days of Angela Merkel, German Chancellor and leader of the CDU, stating her more neutral position on the controversial topic following an encounter with a lesbian couple who foster eight children in her home region.
Sources say fellow CDU members feel betrayed as Merkel reluctantly hops on rainbow bandwagon; allowing a conscience vote on same-sex marriage Friday
The Economist, the Guardian, and the New York Times are all calling out Merkel for changing her stance on same-sex marriage. The articles online are mixed with some declaring it a victory, and others heavily critical of Merkel for using this as an election move.
But does it really matter?
Would a win for same-sex marriage not be a win all the same?
Whether Merkel is doing this for election gains, or out of a genuine change of heart – there seems to be a much more relevant factor the press is skimming over. Merkel by supporting a free vote is doing what she does best and what has always kept her in power; moving with the will of the people.
Recent polls show that 66% of the German people are now in support of same-sex marriage. Merkel, herself, is likely not all of the sudden gung-ho on same-sex marriage after one magical encounter with a lesbian couple as the popular narrative says. But, regardless, this shift in openness to same-sex marriage mirrors other moves Merkel has made in tandem with the will of the people. She changes her campaign platform as the public responds to it and is constantly commissioning opinion polls. If it’s the tides of public opinion even influencing her to open up her stance on same-sex marriage, should this not be applauded instead of criticized?
Yes, going with public opinion gets you more votes. Yes, legalized same-sex marriage is a necessary condition for the other German parties to agree to a coalition with Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union. Yes, Merkel herself will likely not be dancing in the street with a rainbow flag like Justin Trudeau any time soon.
Care to dance, Angela? Canadian PM Justin Trudeau enjoys Toronto Pride Parade; credit – Mark Blinch
But does it really matter?
My answer to this recurring question is – not really, no. Merkel responding to the public opinion is a breath of fresh air. It is going back to the roots of politics. After all, her personal views are fairly irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Democracy, as her party’s name promotes, is about the will of the people and enacting it through a representative government. I concede that the aforementioned factors do show that she obviously has self-interest at play. I do not think that should overshadow the fact that Merkel is being a true leader by relying on the will of the people as her guiding principle. This is not a statement on if Merkel is the best person to lead Germany or a prediction on the upcoming election, but merely an appreciation of her owning her role as a representative of the German people.
The vote of conscience has been put on the agenda for Friday, the last day of this legislative period before the Bundestag breaks for the summer. It is expected to pass comfortably. Regardless of its effects on the upcoming September election, a vote on same-sex marriage is overdue. Whether it really has anything to do with a change of heart from Merkel or if it’s just a strategic move, the vote even being tabled is a win for LBTQ+ community of Germany, and in result, a win for the European Union as a whole.