By Penelope Galliou

The time is now counting down for the framework that the prime minister will set through today’s interview on state television on the marriage of same-sex couples, with procreation as a key and thorny issue.

According to government sources, the prime minister is expected to focus on the necessity of the upcoming regulations for same-sex couples, as a result of a reality that already exists in Greek society, but also on the state’s obligation to resolve unfair pending issues at the expense of same-sex citizens.

He is expected to emphasize that the government is open to a thorough discussion of the issue, so as to resolve misunderstandings and inaccuracies that may overshadow the specific legislative initiative, but also to listen to the arguments of those who disagree.

The question remains whether or not party discipline will be imposed on the ND parliamentary group, but also the “discipline” that will be requested from the government ministers, as disagreements are also recorded within the Council of Ministers. The government representative, however, reiterated the assessment that the participants in the government scheme should support the government’s initiatives.

“When you participate in a group that has a very important mission and debt to the citizens, you have to support its legislative initiatives, to be informed about them and to come forward” he said, photographing the different attitude that Megaros Maximos is expected to maintain between MPs and Ministers of the blue faction.

The Minister of State, Makis Voridis, however, insists on his disagreement with the marriage of same-sex couples, excluding – until now – the possibility of changing his opinion. “Because I have principled views on them, I don’t see it,” he answered a related question in an interview with ANT1.

Of special interest is the attitude that several Deputy Ministers will take towards the bill, as it seems that many are worried about the attitude they will take, especially on the occasion of the issue of childbearing by same-sex couples.

The prime minister, of course, according to government sources, is expected to clarify that childbearing will not be equated with assisted reproduction, including surrogate motherhood, but only with adoption and the recognition of the rights of both parents towards children, so that they are protected .

According to information, the Deputy Minister of National Defense, Giannis Kefalogiannishe is the one who appears the most cautious of all and is waiting for the final text of the draft law to weigh his decisions.

At least in this phase, the Deputy Minister of Rural Development also appears to be negative with a “thorn” on childbearing Stavros Keletsiswhile against the backdrop of adoption, the Deputy Minister of Digital Governance also expressed strong concerns to their interlocutors, Kostas Kyranakisthe Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion Maria Kefala and the Deputy Minister of Health Dimitris Vartzopoulos.

Sources of Herodos Atticus, however, hinted that the prime minister is not going to let his ministers operate at will and vote against such a pivotal bill that concerns the support of rights and the resolution of injustices against homosexuals. After this, it remains to be seen who – apart from Mr. Voridis – will persist until the end in their disagreement or will it be bent after the explanations and clarifications that the prime minister is expected to give tonight during their interview.

Other ND MPs persist in their disagreement even if the issue of party discipline is raised, citing conscientious objections, such as Thanos Pleuris who stated that his disagreement is linked to his conscience as he disagrees “with any intervention in family law” he stated on SKAI television.

Standing also against the upcoming regulations, he insists on declaring and Kostas Karagounis stating that “because the marriage of same-sex couples also entails childbearing, I am against and I am against”, while Anna Karamanli takes a similar position, who emphasized that she believes “in the basic model of the family, the father and the mother” also stating that will vote against.

Many other blue MPs such as Maximos Charakopoulos, Dimitris Markopoulos, Notis Mitarakis, Stelios Petsas, Charalambos Athanasiou, George Georgantas, and Kostas Vlassis have also expressed reservations and concerns.

There are also those parliamentarians of the ND who may disagree with the proposed bill but because they do not want to come into direct disagreement with the prime minister and the government’s central political choice they “flirt” with abstaining from voting thus facilitating the government as well the bill will anyway be passed by a majority of those present.