Highlights: Greece: adoption in Parliament of the right to marriage for homosexuals. Around 11 p.m. (local time), after two days of debates between MPs. Same-sex marriage was then adopted by 176 votes in favor, 76 votes against and 46 abstaining from voting. The right to PMA remains excluded for homosexual couples. On the other hand, they will now be able to adopt children. The Orthodox clergy, the Holy Synod, limited itself to saying at the end of January that it was “totally opposed” to the legalization of civil homosexual marriage.

Greece: adoption in Parliament of the right to marriage for homosexuals

On the evening of Thursday February 15, Greece became the 16th country in the European Union to adopt same-sex marriage in its legislation. Around 11 p.m. (local time), after two days of debates between deputies at Vouli, the Parliament of Athens, the parliamentarians proceeded to the vote. Same-sex marriage was then adopted by 176 votes in favor, 76 votes against and 46 abstaining from voting. The right to PMA remains excluded for homosexual couples. On the other hand, they will now be able to adopt children.

A person hangs an LGBTQ pride flag on a lamppost in front of the Greek Parliament during a rally with other supporters of the LGBTQ community, this Thursday, February 15, 2024 in Athens, on the sidelines of the adoption of marriage for all by the Vouli. AFP - ARIS MESSINIS

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Athens,

Joël Bronner

Greece

, “

the major reforms of family law have always been made by the left

”. The one who highlighted this on public television last month, to take the opposite view, is none other than the conservative Prime Minister

Kyriakos Mitsotakis

, who himself placed himself on the front line in the defense of homosexual marriage.

In a country where the State and the clergy are not separated and where the influence of religion remains strong, the leader of New Democracy took care to keep the Orthodox Church at a distance by indicating "

listening

" to the point of view of the clergy, while clearly recalling: “

The State legislates, it does not co-legislate with the Church.

» In response, the Orthodox clergy, the Holy Synod, limited itself to saying at the end of January that it was “

totally opposed

” to the legalization of civil homosexual marriage.

An opposition without major political consequences. In the conservative camp of Parliament, opponents of gay marriage were simply asked to choose abstention as much as possible, while the left-wing opposition rallied behind the text. In fact, Greece becomes the first country with an Orthodox majority to implement marriage for all, nine years after the establishment of a Civil Pact in the country.

Greece: adoption in Parliament of the right to marriage for homosexuals

Greece: adoption in Parliament of the right to marriage for homosexuals

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