Germany could vote on gay marriage this week after Merkel shift

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German lawmakers could vote to legalize same-sex marriage as early as this week after Chancellor Angela Merkel softened her position on the issue.

Speaking at an event in Berlin on Monday, Merkel spoke of meeting a lesbian couple taking care of eight foster children and said: "I would like to lead the discussion more into a situation where it is a question of conscience rather than something I push through with a majority vote.”

Until now, Merkel had been opposed to legalizing same-sex marriage.

Homosexual traffic lights in Munich. /VCG Photo

Her about-turn means the motion is almost guaranteed to pass when it is put to a vote, as it has the support of the main parties in parliament – the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, the far-left Linke and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and now Merkel, the leader of the ruling Christian Democrats (CDU).

Currently, Germany offers civil unions to same-sex couples but stops short of allowing full marriage and adoption for gay couples.

Merkel's move was widely seen as a strategic move to deprive opposition parties of a campaign issue before Germany's general election on September 24.

The SPD, FDP and Greens had said they would make a potential alliance with Merkel’s CDU contingent on same-sex marriage.

Michael Grosse-Broemer speaks during an interview in Berlin, Germany. /VCG Photo

Support for the issue is widespread in Germany and Merkel’s change of heart was greeted with cheers on social media.

But the chancellor's sudden shift could alienate some in her traditionally Catholic conservative coalition.

Her party’s chief whip, Michael Grosse-Broemer, said Tuesday morning that there is no need for a "rushed" decision on the issue.

A date for the vote has not yet been scheduled but German media reported it could happen already on Friday, before the parliament’s summer recess.