German Same-Sex Marriages By Summer, says Justice Minister

[Dirk39]

Germany could be the next country to introduce legislation to permit same-sex marriages. German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries has vowed to push the new laws through before the end of the summer. Zypries said the government would bypass the Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament where conservatives hold the majority, to grant gay and lesbian couples the same rights as heterosexual couples. Gay couples have been able to register their relationships since 2001, but the new legislation will grant them almost all of the same rights as married heterosexuals. In addition to tax benefits, gay and lesbian couples will inherit pensions and property from their partners if they die, be entitled to alimony and property if they get divorced and would not be punished for refusing to testify against their partners in trials.
http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1432_A_1231302_1_A,00.html

Hello from Germany,
Dirk

[Book Lover]

1. Hurra!

Great news, but I do wonder about the political ramifications, if any, concerning going around the Bundesrat?

[Dirk39]

2. Hi,

I guess they will somehow arrange it. I live in Hamburg, the first city in Germany, where gays and lesbian partnerships are officially established by the registry office since 1998. Doesn't matter much, but since a few months, we have a conservative mayor, who is gay.
Dirk

[Book Lover]

3. Hi!

I am sure it will all work out. I was just wondering if bypassing the legislative body might legally weaken the position of supporters of gay marriage; it seems not to be the case.

[Kellanved]

4. should not be a hard thing to do

The Bundesrat only votes on bills infringing on the rights of the states (Länder).

The bill might be split into two laws: one with the Federal aspects and one with the state aspects. The Federal Bill would pass, the other one would be stalled until the majorities reverse (i.e. the second a conservative Government takes over - talk about irony).


Zypries is positive that the bill can be formulated in a way that the Bundesrat is bypassed; I think I believe her: that lady is a one woman army.

[Book Lover]

5. Thanks for the info

I will have to do some reading on German gov't after the baby goes to bed as I am not sure I understand how a split bill would work, and your comment about irony has me very curious!

[Kellanved]

6. let's see

Traditionally the majority in the Bundesrat is reversed to the majority in the Bundestag. The Federal Government never is popular, and the Bundesrat is the house of states. The state governments are members in the Bundesrat.
If a bill is stalled and not voted down, it might be passed once the majority in the Bundesrat reverses.

As to the splitting: it's an art introduced by Schröder - nobody did it before. The trick is to bundle one law into several bills.