Greece said “yes” on Thursday to gay marriage and the adoption of children by same-sex couples, a major societal reform by the conservative prime minister that she saw as “a turning point for human rights.”
Once the law is promulgated, this Mediterranean country, where the influential Orthodox Church has vehemently opposed reform, will become the 37th country in the world, the 17th country in the European Union and the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize adoption for the same purpose . sex parents.
Of the 254 deputies present in the unicameral parliament, 176 voted in favor, 76 against and two abstained, after two days of sometimes heated debate.
When the result was announced, dozens of people cheered with rainbow flags in front of the parliament in central Athens.
According to Adriana Zahari, a 22-year-old student present outside parliament, Greece experienced “a historic day” for LGBT+ associations with this vote.
“We are so happy with this result, we have been waiting for this for so long,” said the young woman.
AFP
Right-wing Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed “a turning point for human rights” in a “progressive and democratic country passionately committed to European values” at a time when the European Parliament expressed concern about “very serious threats” in a recent resolution. on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in Greece”, particularly with regard to the decline in press freedom.
“From tomorrow, another barrier between us (citizens, editor's note) will be removed and will become a bridge of coexistence in a free state between free citizens,” he also assured during a speech to MPs earlier in the day.
With support from several left-wing opposition parties, there was little doubt that the law would pass.
But Mr. Mitsotakis faced rebellion from the most conservative wing of his New Democracy (ND) party, which opposed the reform.
Flagship measure
Handily re-elected last year, he made same-sex marriage a key issue in his second term.
It “significantly improves the lives of our homosexual fellow citizens and their children,” he judged, recalling that this is “an existing social reality” and that by voting for gay marriage, MPs would “eliminate a serious inequality” in our democracy “.
AFP
Civil partnerships have existed in Greece since 2015, but they do not offer the same legal guarantees as civil marriage.
The Prime Minister also stressed the need to put an end to the grotesque situations regarding same-sex parenthood.
Because so far only the biological parent has rights over the child. In the event of the death of one parent, the state revokes custody of the other parent.
And the children of two fathers cannot receive an ID card because the mother's name is mandatory in the civil status.
“Historical moment”
For Konstantinos Androulakis, a 46-year-old Greek who is married to Michael in the UK and has two children, aged 6 and 11, Greece is experiencing “a historic moment”.
“It is an important stepping stone,” this London adviser, who came to Greece for the occasion, told AFP, expressing hope that “the rights of LGBT+ people in Greece in general will improve in the future.”
However, some regretted that the bill does not grant surrogacy (GPA) to gay couples.
AFP
Most of the bitter debate that has gripped the country in recent weeks has revolved around the issue of same-sex parenthood.
Opinion studies showed that Greeks generally supported same-sex marriage but opposed adoption by same-sex couples.
In a country with an overwhelming Orthodox majority, the church was completely opposed to the project.
“Children have an innate need and therefore the right to grow up with a male father and a female mother,” assures the Holy Synod, which sent a letter to all deputies.
But only around 4,000 opponents, led by the right-wing extremist Niki party, which is close to Russia, gathered in front of parliament on Sunday and waved icons of the Virgin Mary and Christian crosses.
A real symbol: in September, Stefanos Kasselakis, who publicly flaunts his homosexuality and recently married his partner in the United States, took over the leadership of the left-wing Syriza party, the leading opposition force in parliament.