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 16:53 2015 Friday ,23 January
Kuwait in mourning over the demise of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
GMT 14:21 2017 Friday ,17 February
Tillerson, Wang in highest-level US-China meet under Trump
GMT 09:51 2017 Thursday ,23 November
Trial Chamber II to issue additional decision on reparations
GMT 11:52 2017 Thursday ,16 February
Three ways to turn discarded wood into home decor
GMT 14:22 2015 Thursday ,25 June
Mafraq Hospital performs reconstruction surgery
GMT 15:49 2017 Saturday ,26 August
Assistant interior min. inaugurates eastern Samalut police station
GMT 20:15 2017 Tuesday ,07 March
Oman’s central bank plans to raise OMR450m from bond issue
GMT 18:03 2017 Friday ,10 March
Mother of the Nation Festival celebrates Emirati Women
GMT 11:47 2018 Monday ,03 December
IOF demolish facilities, loot money in the Jordan Valley
GMT 16:40 2018 Friday ,09 November
Knife-wielding man kills one, injures two in Melbourne terror attack
GMT 11:27 2016 Tuesday ,16 February
Uganda's Museveni looks to a fourth decade in power
GMT 11:53 2015 Saturday ,19 December
Burj Khalifa shares 160 stories for its 160 storeysGMT 08:55 2011 Friday ,12 August
Attack on police in Peshawar, 3 personnel killed
GMT 06:46 2018 Monday ,24 September
Egypt ambassador to Norway inaugurates ancient Egyptian artefacts exhibition in Oslo
GMT 06:25 2015 Friday ,04 December
Russia equips central Syria airport
GMT 13:28 2013 Friday ,08 November
US woman\'s pre-mastectomy dance video goes viral
GMT 14:55 2013 Thursday ,20 June
Women\'s Museum seeks to showcase rich heritageGMT 12:16 2012 Thursday ,08 March
Jock Hobbs in critical conditionGMT 14:17 2013 Friday ,17 May
Depressed cancer survivors likely to die early
GMT 00:52 2014 Thursday ,27 November
2 pro-police, army rallies in Zagazig Faculty of Islamic Studies
GMT 09:33 2015 Sunday ,01 February
Alfardan Premier Motors launches new Discovery SportGMT 01:02 2011 Wednesday ,11 May
Famous airliner transformed into an a la carte restaurant
GMT 09:04 2013 Saturday ,14 September
Who said models don\'t have a sense of humor?GMT 10:01 2011 Friday ,22 July
FTSE up 0.49% at open
GMT 05:07 2015 Friday ,21 August
Turkey must do more to fight Daesh
GMT 00:19 2013 Sunday ,08 September
\'Night Moves\' wins top prize at Deauville film festGMT 22:52 2011 Tuesday ,13 December
Jessica Simpson the new spokesperson for Weight Watchers
GMT 09:04 2015 Thursday ,04 June
Keep the skies open
GMT 08:08 2017 Thursday ,29 June
Germany urges all sides in Qatar crisis to talkGMT 07:50 2012 Friday ,13 July
STR reports US hotel pipeline for June 2012
GMT 11:15 2018 Tuesday ,09 January
Pay Dh50 and make internet calls on Etisalat
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