Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis justified his government’s intention to legalise same-sex civil marriages during a cabinet session on Wednesday, January 24, framing the legislation as a stride towards increased social equality.
“The new regulation bestows additional rights upon certain individuals; it does not diminish the rights of the majority,” he asserted, emphasizing that “an issue of equality should not serve as grounds for division.”
The conservative leader clarified that, while the proposed bill allows for same-sex civil marriages, it would not authorise same-sex couples to pursue parenthood through surrogate mothers—a possibility presently limited to women facing health-related challenges in childbearing.
Addressing the concerns raised by the influential Orthodox Church, which unanimously opposed the bill on Tuesday, Mitsotakis remarked, “Past disagreements have not strained the relationship between the State and the Church.”
The proposal is anticipated to undergo parliamentary debate in the coming weeks. Despite encountering resistance from several lawmakers within the more conservative faction of the ruling New Democracy, it is expected to be ratified into law with the support of center-left and left opposition parties.
Source: Ekathimerini.
