Angela Merkel softens stance on opposition to same-sex marriage

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Angela Merkel has softened on her opposition to same-sex marriage.

Chancellor Merkel has repeatedly ruled out calls to introduce equal marriage, saying: ā€œFor me, marriage is a man and a woman living together.ā€

The upper house of the German ParliamentĀ  has previously passed symbolic motions calling for same-sex marriage.

The German Chancellor on Monday for the first time softened her stance on the issue amid growing pressure for the country to legalise same-sex marriage.

Merkel in the past has expressed opposition to same-sex marriage, said that her party’s politicions could vote with conscience, rather than along the party line.

She said, speaking to women’s magazine Brigitte: “I would like to orient the discussion in a direction which raises the question of a decision according to conscience rather than imposing anything.”

This is a stark contrast from 2013, when Merkel said she opposed same-sex marriage “the well-being of children.”

Germany legalised civil unions for same-sex couples back in 2001.

The Christian Democratic Party has been opposed to same-sex marriage.

The policy is seen as a move to maintain conservative voters.

The Bavarian Christian Social Union, with which the CDU has formed an alliance is also staunchly opposed to same-sex marriage.

It is believed that if the CDU approves same-sex marriage, it could cause a rift in the alliance.

Germanyā€™s centre-left SPD last week vowed to bring about equal marriage within 100 days of the countryā€™s election.

The centre-left Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) is currently the junior partner in a grand coalition with Chancellor Merkelā€™s right-wing Christian Democrats.

Equal marriage has been a bone of contention between the coalition partners. The SPD strongly backs same-sex marriage, but conservative views within Merkelā€™s party have blocked progress.

The SPD follows in the wake of the Green Party, which has also signalled that it would make equal marriage a condition of any coalition.

The German parliament last week voted to annul the convictions of 50,000 men sentenced for homosexuality under a Nazi-era law.