Earlier today (12 June) the Bundesrat, Germany’s Federal Assembly subordinate to the Bundestag (the parliament), urged the government to make necessary constitutional changes to open marriage to gay and lesbian couples.
In its resolution, titled ‘Marriage for everyone – resolution for full equality of same-sex couples’, the assembly proposes changing the German Civil Code to include marriage equality; the proposed changes to the Civil Code would also grant same-sex couples equal adoption rights.
‘Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come,’ said Malu Dreyer, minister president of Rhineland-Palatinate, in discussions today, before stating Ireland’s landslide referendum result had shown there was no reason not to grant full equality.
The assembly approved the resolution with 40 – 29 votes, due to the higher number of states governed by Labor / Greens or Labor / Left coalitions. Although the German government is obliged to react to a resolution, it does not bind them. A bill which would force Germany’s government, a coalition between Labor and the Conservatives, into a clear stance on the matter has been passed to state committees for discussion; the assembly is expected approve it with an equal majority if a ballot takes place.
The Federal Assembly, a proportional representation of the 16 federal states in the form of 69 representatives who have to be part of their state government, is an essential part of German legislature.
All legislative changes have to be approved by them before they reach the Bundestag; they also have to approve any constitutional change with a 2/3 majority, giving them the power of an absolute veto.
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