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

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.

Last week, Germany’s constitutional court ruled that the present ban on same-sex couples adopting their partner’s adopted children was unconstitutional because it violated the principle of equal treatment.

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.”

Last December, at their party conference, the CDU’s threw out a proposal to give same-sex couples the same tax perks as heterosexual couples.

Opposition parties and gay activists have accused the Christian Democratic Union of holding back on equality for gay couples.