German Greens won't enter govt without gay marriage pledge

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's opposition Greens are pledging not to enter any coalition government after the country's September election without securing a commitment to allowing gay marriage.

Germany has allowed same-sex couples to enter civil partnerships since 2001 but, while other European countries have since allowed full-fledged gay marriage, much of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc remains reluctant to do so.

The traditionally left-leaning Greens hope to be kingmakers after Germany's Sept. 24 election, though the chances of that are unclear. A coalition between Merkel's party and the Greens, with or without a third party, may emerge as a possibility.

The dpa news agency reported that a Green party congress on Saturday included in its election program the statement: "With us, there will be no coalition agreement without marriage for all."

Germany remains one of the few Western nations that still do not recognize same-sex marriage. (Handelsblatt Global)

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