Germany set for vote on gay marriage after Merkel shift
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS | Tue Jun 27, 2017 | 11:06am EDT
Germany set for vote on gay marriage after Merkel shift
By Madeline Chambers | BERLIN
Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) are pushing for a vote this week to legalize gay marriage, capitalizing on a surprise shift from conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel three months before an election.
The issue became a hot election topic after Merkel's three potential coalition partners, including her current SPD partners, made it a condition for sharing power, effectively forcing the conservative chancellor's hand.
At an event hosted by women's magazine "Brigitte" on Monday evening, Merkel said she had taken note of other German parties favoring same-sex marriage and would allow a free vote.
"I would like to lead the discussion more into a situation where it is a question of conscience rather than something I push through with a majority vote," she said.
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