The Lower House of the German Parliament (Bundestag) voted on
26th November 2020 to ratify the UPC agreement. This is
the second attempt by the legislature to approve the Bill of
ratification, after the first Bill failed shortly before becoming
law in 2017, as its constitutionality was challenged, and the
Federal Constitutional Court ruled during March 2020 that the Bill
required a two thirds majority in both houses of the German
Parliament. This time it would appear that the Bundestag
got it right, with more than two thirds of the total number of MPs
voting in favor (570 Yes, 72 No, 3 abstentions; 473 Yes votes
required).
The Bill will now go to the Upper House (Bundesrat), where a two
thirds majority will also be required. It is expected that
the Bill will pass this hurdle on 18th December 2020, following
which it can be executed and promulgated by the President of
Germany for it to become law. With that, ratification will be
completed and deposition of the act
