By Penelope Galliou

Messages addressed to Greek society, the inside of his party but also the opposition broadcast Kyriakos Mitsotakis during the interview he granted on state televisionthe framework based on which the government intends to legislate on the marriage of same-sex couples and childbearing is presented.

Without calculating the political cost and determined to go all the way, the Prime Minister laid out his clear position on the necessity of the regulation, answering all the questions that are already being asked in the public debate about the said sensitive social issue and set the terms of ” equalization” of the issue of equal rights for homosexuals, the solution of which will lead to the passage of the bill by the Parliament.

A bill which is already raising reactions both within the ND parliamentary group and within the government, with the prime minister bypassing the political cost and showing that he has weighed every possible political development and has provided for a “plan B”. for all eventualities.

Although by starting – and officially – the debate on same-sex couples and all the issues arising from it, the prime minister aims to bend and minimize the existing reactions at all levels, he is well aware that they will not “zero” and against consequently he gave way to his deputies who will persist.

Abstinence

As he stated, will not raise the issue of party discipline in passing the bill, as it is a matter of conscience and indirectly but not clearly suggested the solution of abstinence from voting.

“Abstinence is a dignified attitude, where someone can express their disagreement, i.e. not vote in favor, without creating a problem for the governing majority. It is an option that may be available to MPshe characteristically said.

This recommendation, however, did not appear to address it to the members of the Council of Ministers stating that “obviously, when someone is a Minister there is a greater commitment to a collective decision taken by the Council of Ministers. I want to remind that the bills are approved by the Council of Ministers, by the Ministers” he remarked.

In any case, the prime minister, in addition to “facilitating” the dissidents, also gives them time to manage it both communicatively and politically and to weigh it by evaluating all the parameters, which the prime minister clearly set, before making their final decision, the which will be recorded in the vote of the bill.

Furthermore, by promoting abstention as an “alternative solution” instead of a vote against it, Kyriakos Mitsotakis “facilitates” the passage of the bill, even if the leaks in the ND are more than estimated or even if the opposition “succumbs” to petty party calculations and did not support the bill with her vote. As, according to article 67 of the Constitution regarding the majority for decision-making, it is defined that: “The Parliament cannot decide without an absolute majority of the members present, which, however, can never be less than a quarter of the whole number of deputies”.

Consequently, the abstention of the reactionaries will help the bill to be passed with the majority of those present, which is estimated by government circles to be achieved.

In this way, in addition to the internal party “blue obstacles”, the government will be able to overcome any “three-legged obstacle”, which was photographed by the president of PASOK Nikos Androulakis stating speaking to OREN that “Mr. Mitsotakis will not transfer his internal party problems to PASOK. They are his, let him solve them. The government legislates. We are not going to “tie the strings” of New Democracy”.

A point to which the prime minister responded directly, accusing Mr. Androulakis of using the issue as a tool. “Instead of looking at the essence of the matter, Mr. Androulakis instrumentalizes in his way an issue which is a matter of rights in which, I myself begin by saying that I will not impose party discipline. And notice, why am I doing this? Because it is very important not to be divided on this matter”.

On the essence of the legislative initiative, Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that it concerns “marriage equality. That is, the elimination of any discrimination based on sexual orientation in the issue of entering into a marriage relationship. What is marriage, in essence? It is, I would say, the “culmination” of love between two people. It is, however, at the same time a legal contract with rights and obligations,” said the prime minister, arguing that it is not something revolutionary different from what already applies in many European countries.

For the prime minister, however, the most sensitive issue concerns the childrenwhich as he explained are a reality, exist in Greek society but do not have the same rights as children of heterosexual couples.

“Children exist today. And I don’t think anyone disputes a reality: that same-sex couples have children, and those children will not cease to exist, they will not disappear. However, these children, you know, do not have equal rights” he emphasized and wondered “honestly and I look in the eyes of all those who may have some reservations about this issue: we are serving the rights of children that already exist by not regulate the few children, the few couples who are ultimately affected by the issue? And it’s very concerning to them, you know. A child born abroad cannot become a Greek citizen because we in Greece simply do not recognize marriage”.

The prime minister, however, closed down any possibility of surrogacy for same-sex couples, which is proposed by SYRIZA, clarifying that “we are not doing anything in the regime of assisted reproduction. We are not changing anything” adding emphatically that Greece will not become “a laboratory of experiments. “We will not we are experimenting with the most advanced ideas on rights issues.”