Up to six people may soon enter an alternative to marriage in Germany, a ‘civil union of mutual legal responsibility’ – just one example of how the country’s coalition government has been quietly pushing the boundaries of social change.
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Attempts to supercharge the country’s green transition and ailing economy appear mostly doomed, with every new initiative sparking infighting and ending up being watered down.
But in liberalising the country’s stuffy social policies, still covered in the moralistic dust of Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic government, the ‘traffic light’ is quietly making progress.
Germany’s ban on providing information on abortion? Scrapped.
The strict immigration code and naturalisation requirements? Liberalised.
Self-identification for transgender people and the legalisation of marijuana? Set to be passed.
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The newest addition, which the justice ministry introduced this week, is ‘Verantwortungsgemeinschaften’ (roughly: companionships of shared responsibility).
Up to six people may enter such a civil companionship, which allows members to take on legal guardianship and responsibility for each other in a toned-down alternative to marriage.
Naturally, the justice ministry emphasises that this is directed at friends, widowed elders, or single parents supporting each other – God forbid that it should be seen as an enabler for polyamory.
But technically, the new union is also open to up to six romantic partners, though the tangible benefits are nebulous and almost negligent compared to marriages.
