Equal marriage: A political turning point?

After 30 years fighting, dozens of debates, setbacks and little steps, Germany finally made: The Parliament voted for the right to marry for gays and lesbians. At the end it was a quick and dirty spectacular: It was not Angela Merkel’s statement in a town hall meeting that led at the end to this vote but the decision of the main parties on the left and the liberals as potential partners for the Chancellor after this year’s election to put this issue at a sine qua non level: Without equal marriage, no partnership with Merkel’s conservatives. This question was - surprisingly for Merkel - answered very quickly. After the vote the Social Democrats are thrilled by their own courage at the end of the coalition days; the Greens are happy about another long-term goal from their starting days to be reached. This is an important, historic and unique vote — bringing Germany back in the round of progressive politics.

There is now a momentum for the election coming in September: After years of “Weiter so” or “Just Continue” politics, small steps, sit back and look what happens, “You know me” etc. — terms that describe Angela Merkels presidential like style in the Chancellery — this vote shows what we can achieve with visionary politics: We can be progressive, innovative, we can lead and change and turn the processes to the good. News reported widely that Merkel herself voted “No”. This might be a problem for now: “No” is antiquated and without vision and courage. Germans are overall content with their leadership: The economy is running smoothly, and she is now the leader of the free world for some on international stage. It is hard to campaign against such a mood in which everyone is fat and happy — “Weiter so”, “You know me”. The vote today could be the start of something if the parties are courageous: They must open the eyes for the future potential the country is missing, for the forces that are hidden and the leadership that is hardly needed to master the challenges in front of us. This week has shown the politics of yesterday with bad leadership and a possible turning point in the political mood in Germany.