By Penelope Galliou

From the first moment of its re-election for a second consecutive term, the government through the prime minister has placed high on its priorities the everyday life of the citizen and its improvement, and in this context the improvement of the rights of same-sex couples is included. An issue that currently includes reforming the institution of marriage and providing equal opportunities to same-sex couples.

An issue that at times divides not only society but also the parliamentary group of the ND and for this reason it has been the subject of discussions and processing for a long time now, waiting for the politically appropriate time, for the disputed bill to be tabled and voted with a broad parliamentary consensus, which will also cover any leaks that will exist in the ruling party, from the MPs who are still reacting and who have, according to information, been asked to vote according to their conscience. The recommendations within the ND move in two directions regarding the filing and passing of the bill, with one favoring the passing after the municipal elections and in any case before the end of the year, and the second referring even further back to the pre-election commitment, for after the European elections in May.

In a recent interview, the Prime Minister at Bloomberg he estimated that “Greek society is much more ready and mature”, repeating his relative commitment, that is, “What I have said pre-election and post-election is fully valid. It is an issue that within this four-year period, this government will resolve it ” emphasized the prime minister.

The government’s timetable, however, is likely to affect and change its arrival Stefanou Kasselakis in the political foreground of the country and the presidency of SYRIZA, as it seems that the choice made by the voters of SYRIZA in the person of Mr. Kasselakis was “measured” by Megaros Maximos, concluding – according to a government source, that society proved to be more ready to accept everyone’s right to life, with a government official noting that “society finally proved more ready to accept marriage equality for same-sex couples”.

The prime minister’s chief economic advisor reiterated Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s intention to initiate the legalization of marriage equality for heterosexual and same-sex couples, Alexis Pateliswho on the occasion of the discussions about the new president of SYRIZA, Mr. Patelis commented in an interview that “What I found interesting, as you know I am also married abroad with my partner, what I found interesting was that the topic of discussion about Mr. Kasselakis was not his sexual orientation but all the rest.The fact that he wore short sleeves, if he ate breakfast, drank coffee and we have a so-called new situation in which the official opposition leader is married abroad to a relationship that is not recognized by the Greek legal order”.

If the bill for same-sex couples is submitted and voted by the Parliament, then these couples will also be able to marry in Greece with a civil marriage, while it is possible that the bill will recognize all the other rights deriving from the basic relationship of marriage only by broadening its definition.

According to government sources, the issue of party discipline is not expected to be raised in the blue faction, although Maximou would like to be voted in by as many of its MPs as possible. However, it is estimated that the necessary majority will be secured with the support of SYRIZA and PASOK.