The Social Democratic Party of Germany—coalition partners with Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats—has said it will ramp up efforts to legalise same-sex marriage in the country.
Thomas Opperman - the chairman of the Social Democrats - told Der Spiegel magazine that he also had the support of the Green party, according to .
Green Party politician Katrin Goering-Eckardt released a statement saying that her party would be asking for public debates on the issue.
"For years, we've seen nothing but hot air from the conservatives and the SPD," she said in a statement.
Opperman told Der Spiegel that as well as same-sex marriage, he would also push for pardons to be granted to men convicted of historic gay sex offences—following the lead of the and .
Family Minister and Social Democrat Manuela Schwesig says that legalising same-sex marriage is an important step for social progress in Germany.
"It's time for the conservatives to move on this issue. It must stop putting the brakes on modernisation."
Currently 13 Europeans countries have legalised gay marriage including France, Denmark, Spain and Portugal.
