By Penelope Galliou

With the permanent claim of the government, to be the improvement of the daily life of the citizens in all its aspects, there are more and more suggestions of government officials to proceed in this context and the establishment of marriage for same-sex couples. An issue that is raised on the basis of the rights and, by extension, the optimization of the life and everyday life of these couples, by providing equal opportunities with couples of different sexes.

In this light, according to government sources, there are more and more suggestions that the filing of the relevant bill, which the prime minister himself has timed within the current four-year period, be expedited and filed before the ballot box of the European elections.

However, as has already become clear from the public political and social debate, this is an issue that at times divides not only society but also ND parliamentary group. 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 may exist in the ruling party, from the deputies who are still and react and who were nevertheless reportedly asked to vote their conscience.

According to government officials, the estimates at Maximos Palace they agree that “Greek society is much more ready and mature”, despite the reservations that may be expressed from time to time, as it is a reality to which the state cannot “close its eyes”. After all, the prime minister himself has repeated from time to time that “What I have said pre-election and post-election is valid in its entirety. It is an issue that this government will resolve within this four-year period”.

If the bill for same-sex couples is filed and passed by the Parliament, then these couples will also be able to get married 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 expanding its definition. To what extent, however, the bill will concern childbearing by same-sex couples, to which the church also reacts, is currently being weighed and is not considered particularly likely. However, the information so far indicates that the government will focus on transferring the debate to the field of rights and especially of the children of same-sex couples, who are currently being discriminated against, in terms of the rights of their parents to support their children. Driven by this, the government considers that the marriage of same-sex couples is a matter of equality and protection of children and neither threatens nor alters in any way the core of the traditional family, as sources say.

Despite the assurances, however, MPs of the ruling party continue to express reservations to outright disagreement with the bill in question, reducing it to an issue of identity and value and already declaring that when it is tabled in Parliament, they will vote against it. Among them, former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, who argues that the “nuclear family, where there are parental role models of both sexes” should be supported. ND MPs have also been categorically against, Thanos Plevris, Andreas Katsaniotis and Maximos Charakopoulosbut also the Minister of State, Makis Voridis, while the Minister of Labor, Adonis Georgiadis, has not taken a clear position, who believes that “This particular bill has a special character. It actually has a completely conscientious approach. You cannot easily abolish the conscience of a of man. So there the margins are not exactly like in any other bill”.

The Church is categorically opposed, especially to procreation by same-sex couples, with the government representative, for his part, having already focused and explained the separation of powers.

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