Germany: Angela Merkel’s party considers u-turn on same-sex tax perks

German Chancellor Angela Merkel gives an interview bto German women's monthly Brigitte, on the stage at the Maxim Gorki theatre in front of a live audience in Berlin on June 26, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / TOBIAS SCHWARZ (Photo credit should read TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Following the ruling in Germany’s highest court last week on same-sex adoption, leading members of Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party are now considering a u-turn on tax amendments for same-sex couples.
In a newspaper interview, Volker Kauder, the leader of the CDU’s parliamentary group said: “We will of course implement the constitutional court’s ruling – that is called for now. At the same time, we will see whether tax amendments are necessary.”
However, the CDU’s sister party in Bavaria, the Christian Social Union (CSU) cautioned against any urgent changes.
Gerda Hasselfeldt, head of the CSU’s parliamentary group in Berlin said: “There is no grounds for taking hasty action or even making an about face on the subject of equal rights for married couples and same-sex couples.”
Opposition parties and gay activists have accused the Christian Democratic Union of holding back on equality for gay couples.
More: Angela Merkel, bavaria, Christian Democrats, christian social union, Christina, equal rights, Europe, Gay rights, gerda hasselfeldt, Germany, Germany, same-sex adoption, same-sex couple, tax
Click to comment