Politician's cure for seven-year itch is to put marriage on time limit
ALLAN HALL AND SHÂN ROSS (sross@scotsman.com)
A CONTROVERSIAL politician has shocked Germany by suggesting the so-called "seven-year itch" could be dealt with by limiting marriage contracts to that period.
Twice-divorced Gabriele Pauli, who is attempting to become leader of the ultra-conservative Christian Social Union (CSU), believes anyone wanting to stay married beyond seven years should have to apply for an extension. The partnership would otherwise be automatically dissolved.
The 50-year-old maverick last year rattled the all-white and male-dominated hierarchy of her party, which rules the Catholic southern state of Bavaria, by posing for magazine photographs dressed as a dominatrix in latex and leather.
Speaking at the launch of her manifesto, she said: "I firmly believe marriages of the future should be locked in to a time period.
"The basic approach is wrong ...many marriages last just because people believe they are safe. My suggestion is that marriages expire after seven years. I know that after this period many marriages reach a crisis point.
"It is false to go around with a notion that marriages are always super and intact."
The CSU has dominated Bavarian politics since the Second World War. It is the sister party of the conservative Christian Democratic Union - which is led by Angela Merkel, the German chancellor.
Ms Pauli's first marriage lasted 11 years and the second six years - before ending in divorce in February.
She said: "A contract for seven years means you will have to commit for a fixed period and you will have to renew your vows should you want to carry on."
But Phillip Hodson, fellow of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, last night insisted that marriage should not be a "throwaway commodity" - particularly when children are involved.
He said: "We do need a revised policy on marriage because it is Faustian and out-of-date. It is based on the premise that you will be the same person for the rest of your life.
"However, we need to teach marriage, so that people understand what is involved. I would say that the needs of children come first, but if a couple don't have children, the marriage should be more easily dissolved."
Peter Kearney, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland, said: "As far as the Catholic Church is concerned, marriage should be for life, and we are highly unlikely to be influenced by a Bavarian politician.
"Scotland has a huge 'divorce industry' of lawyers helping couples to split the spoils, when what we should have is increased funding for reconciliation services."
Observers say Ms Pauli stands almost no chance of winning next week's vote for the CSU's leadership.
One of her rivals for the post is Horst Seehofer, the country's consumer minister.
But the married 58-year-old father of three's popularity has suffered from the disclosure that he has been having an affair with a younger woman who recently had his baby.
Peter Ramsauer, head of the CSU in Germany's parliament, last night distanced the party from Ms Pauli's comments. He compared her suggestion to "the dirt under your fingernails".
THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH
THE phrase "seven-year itch" refers to the extreme ennui sometimes suffered by partners in a marriage.
It became a catchphrase following the success of the 1955 film of the same name starring Marilyn Monroe.
Based on a play written by George Axelrod, the plot centres on a married man left alone in his apartment while his wife and son are on holiday in Maine.
He is meant to review a book on the "seven-year itch", but instead invites his 22-year-old female neighbour upstairs for a drink. But fear that his wife could have an affair with a young lifeguard thwarts his desire.
ALLAN HALL AND SHÂN ROSS (sross@scotsman.com)
A CONTROVERSIAL politician has shocked Germany by suggesting the so-called "seven-year itch" could be dealt with by limiting marriage contracts to that period.
Twice-divorced Gabriele Pauli, who is attempting to become leader of the ultra-conservative Christian Social Union (CSU), believes anyone wanting to stay married beyond seven years should have to apply for an extension. The partnership would otherwise be automatically dissolved.
The 50-year-old maverick last year rattled the all-white and male-dominated hierarchy of her party, which rules the Catholic southern state of Bavaria, by posing for magazine photographs dressed as a dominatrix in latex and leather.
Speaking at the launch of her manifesto, she said: "I firmly believe marriages of the future should be locked in to a time period.
"The basic approach is wrong ...many marriages last just because people believe they are safe. My suggestion is that marriages expire after seven years. I know that after this period many marriages reach a crisis point.
"It is false to go around with a notion that marriages are always super and intact."
The CSU has dominated Bavarian politics since the Second World War. It is the sister party of the conservative Christian Democratic Union - which is led by Angela Merkel, the German chancellor.
Ms Pauli's first marriage lasted 11 years and the second six years - before ending in divorce in February.
She said: "A contract for seven years means you will have to commit for a fixed period and you will have to renew your vows should you want to carry on."
But Phillip Hodson, fellow of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, last night insisted that marriage should not be a "throwaway commodity" - particularly when children are involved.
He said: "We do need a revised policy on marriage because it is Faustian and out-of-date. It is based on the premise that you will be the same person for the rest of your life.
"However, we need to teach marriage, so that people understand what is involved. I would say that the needs of children come first, but if a couple don't have children, the marriage should be more easily dissolved."
Peter Kearney, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland, said: "As far as the Catholic Church is concerned, marriage should be for life, and we are highly unlikely to be influenced by a Bavarian politician.
"Scotland has a huge 'divorce industry' of lawyers helping couples to split the spoils, when what we should have is increased funding for reconciliation services."
Observers say Ms Pauli stands almost no chance of winning next week's vote for the CSU's leadership.
One of her rivals for the post is Horst Seehofer, the country's consumer minister.
But the married 58-year-old father of three's popularity has suffered from the disclosure that he has been having an affair with a younger woman who recently had his baby.
Peter Ramsauer, head of the CSU in Germany's parliament, last night distanced the party from Ms Pauli's comments. He compared her suggestion to "the dirt under your fingernails".
THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH
THE phrase "seven-year itch" refers to the extreme ennui sometimes suffered by partners in a marriage.
It became a catchphrase following the success of the 1955 film of the same name starring Marilyn Monroe.
Based on a play written by George Axelrod, the plot centres on a married man left alone in his apartment while his wife and son are on holiday in Maine.
He is meant to review a book on the "seven-year itch", but instead invites his 22-year-old female neighbour upstairs for a drink. But fear that his wife could have an affair with a young lifeguard thwarts his desire.
Comment