Even as the debate over gay rights continues in India, Germany could soon have a Foreign Minister who is openly gay. While his critics believe this could be detrimental to Germany’s interests, the politician in question, Guido Westerwelle, leader of liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), refuses to back down.

On Sunday, if voters give a majority to the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) — Christian Social Union (CSU) plus the FDP, Westerwelle could be Chancellor Angela Merkel’s foreign minister. And, if the latest opinion polls are an indicator, the possibility of this happening is strong.

In 2004, Westerwelle made public his long-standing relationship with businessman Michael Mronz. Later, he even took along press photographers when he went to visit his partner’s mother, who referred to him as her “son-in-law”.

However, critics say with a gay foreign minister, Germany’s bilateral engagements with some conservative countries could become difficult. A senior German Foreign Ministry official told The Indian Express that it “might” be difficult to do diplomacy with Islamic nations with Westerwelle as Foreign Minister.

“Recently, the Iranian President was seen publicly gloating after the execution of two gay men in his country. Would Westerwelle be able to do business with leaders like that?” asked the official who didn’t wish to be named.

However, Westerwelle has his supporters too. Says Prof Volker Perthes, Director of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, “The world has changed and the sexual orientation of a politician will not come in the way of matters of state.”

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