German MPs approve gay marriage in snap vote
Chancellor Angela Merkel
Berlin - Egypt Today
A clear majority of German MPs have voted to legalise same-sex marriage, days after Chancellor Angela Merkel dropped her opposition to a vote.
The reform gives gay men and lesbians full marital rights, and allows them to adopt children.
At present, same-sex couples are limited to civil unions.
Mrs Merkel's political opponents were strongly in favour. But Mrs Merkel, who only gave MPs the go-ahead on Monday, voted against.
She had told deputies in her conservative Christian Democrat party (CDU) to "follow their conscience".
Norbert Lammert, president of the parliament, said 393 lawmakers voted to approve the amendment, while 226 voted against and four abstained.
The German legal code will now read: "Marriage is entered into for life by two people of different or the same sex", AFP news agency reported.
How did Merkel prompt the vote?
During her 2013 election campaign, Angela Merkel argued against gay marriage on the grounds of "children's welfare," and admitted that she had a "hard time" with the issue.
- Wednesday ,12 December GMT 08:26 2018 Australian government discusses moving Israel embassy to Jerusalem
GMT 13:29 2018 Friday ,14 December
Turkey targets military over alleged Gulen linksGMT 09:32 2018 Wednesday ,12 December
Huawei CFO gets bail; China detains ex-Canadian diplomatGMT 09:24 2018 Wednesday ,12 December
LuLu supports KFUPM Rectors Cup marathonGMT 09:12 2018 Wednesday ,12 December
Ford trains 1,600 motorists in Mideast, Africa in 2018GMT 09:00 2018 Wednesday ,12 December
May tours Europe in desperate bid to save Brexit dealGMT 08:26 2018 Wednesday ,12 December
Australian government discusses moving Israel embassy to JerusalemGMT 10:32 2018 Tuesday ,11 December
Trump’s troubled White House in search of new chief of staffGMT 10:03 2018 Monday ,10 December
23 Palestinians arrested in West BankRussia tests new telemetry system during manned Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft’s launch
Moscow - TASS
The Astra-06 apparatus developed by specialists of Russian Space Systems (RSS) was used for the first time as additional telemetric equipment aboard the manned Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft launc...Read More
GMT 10:04 2019 Monday ,19 August
Live a tense and noisy atmosphere
GMT 22:42 2018 Thursday ,13 December
'World of Food Abu Dhabi' kicks off at Umm Al Emarat Park
GMT 08:59 2017 Friday ,10 March
Dubai ‘bio-dome’ will be home to 3,000 plants and animals
GMT 10:12 2018 Sunday ,28 October
Eritrea warns Germany not to 'meddle' in region's affairs
GMT 10:55 2017 Saturday ,22 July
368,000 suspected cholera cases in Yemen
GMT 11:17 2018 Thursday ,11 January
Human muscle tissue grown
GMT 12:59 2017 Tuesday ,19 December
German watchdog finds Facebook data harvesting 'abusive'
GMT 12:47 2018 Wednesday ,21 November
TRA Bahrain wins major regional award
GMT 09:26 2016 Friday ,13 May
Zlatan Ibrahimovic announces departure from PSG
GMT 08:01 2018 Tuesday ,18 September
US introduces 10% duties on imports from China for $200 bln from September 24
GMT 15:46 2018 Monday ,10 September
Oppo launches its premium smartphone Find X in UAE
GMT 20:48 2017 Monday ,13 March
Egypt's mufti: Dar al Ifta ready to support Muslims in Singapore
GMT 12:03 2017 Monday ,02 January
66 Indians jailed in Pakistan
GMT 11:43 2017 Saturday ,25 February
Why is Aung San Suu Kyi silent on abuses against the Rohingya in Myanmar?
GMT 16:13 2017 Monday ,24 April
Saudi foundation pledges $50m to eradicate measles
GMT 09:11 2017 Saturday ,29 April
White Nile, North Upper Nile State of South Sudan to sign memorandum
GMT 08:30 2017 Monday ,27 February
Steak & caramelised onion sandwich
GMT 07:16 2017 Wednesday ,19 April
Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Federation launches logo
GMT 11:15 2017 Tuesday ,14 March
Kerber holds off Parmentier to advance at WTA Indian Wells
GMT 12:34 2017 Wednesday ,13 September
Ahlam Haggi gives priority to her career
GMT 07:24 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
Turkey in new assault on Kurdish militia on Syria
GMT 08:44 2017 Sunday ,24 December
Firm Keppel Offshore to pay $422 mn
GMT 08:58 2017 Thursday ,23 November
A visionary electric hypercar
GMT 09:10 2017 Tuesday ,07 November
Lebanon politicians await outcome of Saudi king’s
GMT 12:43 2016 Monday ,19 September
'Sully' stays at top of North American box office
GMT 08:09 2017 Thursday ,19 October
Weinstein being 'condemned by vigilantes': Oliver Stone
GMT 09:19 2017 Tuesday ,29 August
Bahrain pilgrims in good health
GMT 04:19 2017 Tuesday ,24 January
A water tunnel to the underworld
GMT 16:15 2018 Monday ,10 December
“On the Roof of Damascus” film wins Special Jury Award at International Film Festival, Tunisia
GMT 14:25 2014 Wednesday ,29 January
Egyptian general\'s murder highlights growing insecurity
GMT 03:44 2015 Thursday ,17 September
Number of Egyptian deaths in Mecca crane accident rises to 4
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor