Politician suggests limiting marriage to seven years

Limiting marriage to seven years could cure seven-year itch says German politician

One of Germany's most glamorous politicians has suggested that the Seven Year Itch could be cured by making marriage vows that are only valid for seven years.

Gabriele Pauli who is running to become head of the Bavarian conservative Christian Social Union has proposed that civil marriages be regarded as a limited seven-year contract.

Pauli's proposal to turn marriage into a time-share arrangement has shocked Germany with the head of Catholic marriage counselling in Bavaria, Johann Reisel saying: 'It sounds to me like renewing a mobile phone contract.'

The politician's suggestion means that after the initial seven-year contract, 'each partner would have to say 'yes' again in order to prolong the marriage,' she explained.

Adding: 'If they do, there is no reason why marriage should not end up as a life-long partnership, but in the meantime we will have saved the financial and emotional cost of many divorces.'

Yesterday Catholic bishops called for Ms Pauli to be thrown out of the CSU.