Same sex marriages legalised in Germany

The Bundestag (the German constitutional and legislative body) has legalised same sex marriages with a vote of 393 to 226, The Independent informs.

Deputies from the Christian Democratic Union, led by Chancellor Merkel, voted to be free of the party whip. Most parties, apart from the CDU, was in favor of equal rights for the LGBT community.

Chancellor Merkel voted against the new law, claiming that ‘marriage is between a man and a woman’. Nevertheless, she hailed the result saying: “I hope that the vote today not only promotes respect between different opinions but also brings more social cohesion and peace”.

The Independent quotes political experts who believe Merkel has made the right move with the parliamentary elections coming up in September. She won the conservatives support by voting “no” without antagonizing the leftist parties, who were not hindered to bring the new law to a vote.