Germany Legalizes Gay Marriage (June 30, 2017)

[TDAS04]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/27/europe/germany-same-sex-marriage/index.html

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Edit: changed title to reflect current events. K.

[Santander]

Does the "C" in CDU still stand for Christian?

[Kingpoleon]

Good. If it doesn't happen now, I'd like to see the Greens and FDP push it through after the election.

[dead0man]

How do they feel being less "woke" than 'murica?

[Middle-aged Europe]

Good. If it doesn't happen now, I'd like to see the Greens and FDP push it through after the election.

Oh, it is certainly going to pass now. SPD, Greens, and the Left are all for it and together they currently hold a majority of seats in parliament.

What had prevented it so far was the SPD's unwillingless to break ranks (and thus end the coalition) with the CDU/CSU over the issue. However, this has now changed with Merkel's announcement. Basically, they've have been granted permission by the Chancellor to break ranks.

To elaborate further, Merkel's announcement was a strategic decision on her part. In the past two weeks, SPD, FDP, and Greens had all pledged that they'd only enter a coalition with the CDU/CSU after the election on the condition that gay marriage will be legalized. Merkel then prioritized having a coalition partner over continuing to oppose gay marriage. Considering that she probably never really cared about opposing gay marriage in the first place, it wasn't that hard a decision to make.

[Beezer]

Merkel completely discards a conservative principle that she had argued for in the recent past from one moment to the next? Color me surprised...

[libertpaulian]

She probably feels embarrassed that her country is one of the few left in Western Europe that doesn't have marriage equality.

[mvd10]

Merkel completely discards a conservative principle that she had argued for in the recent past from one moment to the next? Color me surprised...

To be fair I'm surprised that she held out so long. Even a large majority of CDU voters support gay marriage according the polls. She probably just didn't want to piss the CSU off.

[Tender Branson]

Same thing simultaneously here right now.

SPÖ+Greens+NEOS are pressuring the ÖVP to allow their MPs to vote freely on their joint SSM initiative that they will introduce in parliament tomorrow.

The ÖVP responds with:

"We do not comment on Germany's election campaign".

or

"We will present our own plans on SSM in our September election program."

or

"We have no pressure. This is a German-only thing."

---

Looks like the ÖVP won't vote with them tomorrow and the SPÖ has already hinted they could try again in September.

The "New" ÖVP with Kurz is not so new after all ...

[DavidB.]

Well, the ÖVP doesn't face the same situation as the CDU, as it will probably enter the government with a party that is also opposed to SSM.

[mvd10]

And isn't the ÖVP generally more conservative than the CDU? They probably are more comparable to the CSU on social issues from what I've read.

[Middle-aged Europe]

The vote will be held this Friday.

SPD, Greens, and the Left will vote for it (320 votes). CSU will vote against it (56 votes). The CDU (253 votes) will probably be split between its conservative and liberal wings.

[libertpaulian]

Because they're taking up the bill that's already been voted on by the Bundesrat, that means once this chamber votes on the bill, it becomes law, right?  (Once the President signs it of course)

[Beezer]

Merkel completely discards a conservative principle that she had argued for in the recent past from one moment to the next? Color me surprised...

To be fair I'm surprised that she held out so long. Even a large majority of CDU voters support gay marriage according the polls. She probably just didn't want to piss the CSU off.

This is pretty much a non-issue though so holding out didn't require much of an effort. Now some guy asks her at a softball town hall debate about the topic and Merkel responds by saying "whatever, we'll just vote on it." She's the personification of post-democracy.

[Tender Branson]

And isn't the ÖVP generally more conservative than the CDU? They probably are more comparable to the CSU on social issues from what I've read.

Depends on the issues I guess.

On gay marriage, the CDU and ÖVP are virtually the same. Among their voters, support is similar.

With Kurz, the ÖVP has become more like the CSU again though (taking a hard-line against immigration, integration etc.)

Anyway, SPÖ+Greens+NEOS have 84/183 seats in parliament. If all of their MPs vote in favour, it would take 8 of the 51 ÖVP MPs to vote in favour of a majority. Or 16% of the ÖVP parliamentarians.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Because they're taking up the bill that's already been voted on by the Bundesrat, that means once this chamber votes on the bill, it becomes law, right?  (Once the President signs it of course)

Yes, the gay marriage bill which will be voted upon in the Bundestag this Friday was already passed by the Bundesrat in September 2015. Since then, it had been held up in committee.

The full text of the bill can be found her (in German)
http://dip21.bundestag.de/dip21/btd/18/066/1806665.pdf

According to Article 3, subsection 1, the bill takes effect on the first day of the third month after its promulgation (which happens after the president has signed it).

So, the earliest possible date the law would take effect is October 1.

[Tender Branson]

Because they're taking up the bill that's already been voted on by the Bundesrat, that means once this chamber votes on the bill, it becomes law, right?  (Once the President signs it of course)

Yes, the gay marriage bill which will be voted upon in the Bundestag this Friday was already passed by the Bundesrat in September 2015. Since then, it had been held up in committee.

The full text of the bill can be found her (in German)
http://dip21.bundestag.de/dip21/btd/18/066/1806665.pdf

According to Article 3, subsection 1, the bill takes effect on the first day of the third month after its promulgation (which happens after the president has signed it).

So, the earliest possible date the law would take effect is October 1.

October 1 would be great.

It would allow SPÖ+Greens+NEOS to renew their pressure on the ÖVP, during the height of our campaign ...

[libertpaulian]

Because they're taking up the bill that's already been voted on by the Bundesrat, that means once this chamber votes on the bill, it becomes law, right?  (Once the President signs it of course)

Yes, the gay marriage bill which will be voted upon in the Bundestag this Friday was already passed by the Bundesrat in September 2015. Since then, it had been held up in committee.

The full text of the bill can be found her (in German)
http://dip21.bundestag.de/dip21/btd/18/066/1806665.pdf

According to Article 3, subsection 1, the bill takes effect on the first day of the third month after its promulgation (which happens after the president has signed it).

So, the earliest possible date the law would take effect is October 1.

That would be a nice way to end Oktoberfest.  Lots of fabulous gay weddings!  German beer aplenty at the receptions!

[Antonio the Sixth]

So Italy will be the last.

[ApatheticAustrian]

So Italy will be the last.

renzi seems like a better choice than kurz  re: this matter but i guess, renzi won't win anyway and kurz...nc.

[libertpaulian]

So Italy will be the last.

I don't know...Switzerland seems to be dragging its feet.

[Tender Branson]

New polls in both Germany and Austria show massive support for gay marriage:

Germany

INSA/Bild: 75% for, 20% against (adoption: 66-22 support)
YouGov: 66% for, 26% against (adoption: 57-33 support)

By party:

CDU/CSU: 73-22 support
SPD: 87-11 support
Greens: 93-5 support
Left: 84-15 support
AfD: 40-55 oppose (odd, because their frontrunner Alice Weidel is lesbian)
FDP: not asked

Austria

Unique Research/Profil: 70% for, 22% against (adoption is already legal in Austria)

[Tender Branson]

The gay marriage vote in the Austrian parliament just failed a few minutes ago, after an emotional debate.

All SPÖ+Greens+NEOS representatives voted in favour, all ÖVP+FPÖ+Team Stronach+Independents voted against.

After the vote, NEOS-MP Niki Scherak took to the podium, looked over to the ÖVP bench and called them cowards. The ÖVP MPs looked down on their smartphones and tablets ...

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Does the "C" in CDU still stand for Christian?

Cuckolded

[Tender Branson]

Gay marriage vote currently underway in the German parliament.

Merkel just cast a red NO vote.