Merkel's strategic retreat on same-sex marriage is rival's tactical win


German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a party meeting in Berlin, Germany, June 28, 2017. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's parliament is set on Friday to vote to allow marriages between people of the same sex, embarrassing Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and handing her Social Democrat (SPD) challengers a rare victory months before a national election.

Success in passing the so-called "marriage for all" amendment will be a tonic for the centre-left party, which has barely made a dent in Merkel's comfortable poll lead after months of campaigning.

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