Germany: Angela Merkel’s conservative party to hold off on gay tax rights amidst election fears

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party will not currently initiate further legislation to allow equal rights for gay couples, following a supreme court ruling which has caused controversy within her party.

Germany’s constitutional court recently 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.

Some members of the conservative party had argued that the party should move forward with granting further rights such as equal tax rights, as opposed to waiting to be forced into action, reported the Associated Press.

Resistance however, was drawn from social conservatives worried about alienating traditional supporters ahead of elections in September.

The CDU party’s general secretary Herman Groehe said on Monday that party leaders had agreed to not currently push more legislation, and have said they will wait for the court to rule.

Reports late last week suggested that party members had been considering slowing down on its initiation of new legislation.

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.

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