After the same-sex marriage victory in Ireland, Germany’s Green Party is calling for Chancellor Angela Merkel to follow suit.

The Republic of Ireland overwhelmingly voted to introduce same-sex marriage in a referendum last week, with 62.1% voting in favour and 37.9% voting against.

Chancellor Merkel is facing calls for her Grand Coalition government to catch up and introduce equality.

Germany allows same-sex couples to enter into registered life partnerships that provide some of the benefits of marriage – but the Chancellor’s CDU/CSU coalition continues to oppose same-sex marriage.

Opposition Green leader Katrin Göring-Eckardt told Die Welt:

The Merkel faction cannot just sit out the debate on marriage for all. I am confident that the Irish vote will accelerate equality in Germany. This is a great signal from Ireland. Equal love deserves equal respect.”

Jens Spahn, of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union party, also expressed hope despite his party’s opposition.

What the Catholic Irish can do, we can do, too … The populace is often further along in these matters than we think.”

Political leaders in a number of other countries – including Northern Ireland, Australia and Italy – are also calling on their governments to follow suit.