The Green Party has publicly urged Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) to translate her announcements regarding reforms to sexual law and divorce law into actual, concrete legislation.
Lena Gumnior, the co-chair of the Green Party in the Committee for Law and Consumer Protection, told the “Rheinische Post” that Minister Hubig primarily stands out for her announcements. She noted that the Greens have already debated their draft law for a comprehensive “Yes means Yes” rule within the Bundestag. The coalition could support this measure, as it aligns with the support provided by the Green Party’s members of the European Parliament. Under the “Yes means Yes” framework, sexual acts would become criminal if consent was not actively given.
Additionally, Hubig recently proposed an amendment to the divorce law suggesting that the one-year separation period would no longer need to be maintained if there was domestic violence. Helge Limburg, the Green Party’s political spokesperson, welcomed this proposal in principle. According to Limburg, if a person repeatedly or structurally commits violence against their partner, they have effectively left the conjugal community. He suggested that a suitable draft law should be constructively reviewed. However, the Green politician stressed that it is crucial for this reform bill to be presented quickly. Limburg concluded by criticizing the current pattern of significant time gaps between announcements and the presentation of concrete legislative drafts.
