Party discipline does not enter into matters of conscience, said ND secretary Maria Syregela, referring to the bill in relation to same-sex couples.

Speaking to ERT, Ms. Sirengela emphasized that the responsibility of ministers is increased because as she said “when you are in the Council of Ministers you have an additional responsibility because these laws are passed by the Council of Ministers”.

He pointed out, among other things, that “here we are clearly talking about human rights more broadly, but also mainly about children’s rights that already exist”. “Clearly party discipline does not come into play, because it has to do with matters of conscience and we understand that party discipline does not come into matters of conscience. The other is that I believe that with some specific explanations that will be made, a vast majority of New Democracy MPs will move towards “yes”. This is my feeling.”

Asked if the bill passes only with the ND and if it needs support from other parties as well, she emphasized that “because here we are dealing with human rights issues and especially with children’s issues, clearly in these issues it is good to be as much as possible more factions in the Parliament, not only for this issue, we first start from our home, from us, from our family, from our faction, in making the information and as it is done every time”.

As for whether the ministers should vote on it, he answered: “ministers are also MPs, so they have a dual position of responsibility. When you are in the Council of Ministers you have an extra responsibility because these laws are passed by the Council of Ministers”. When asked if the ministers who will not vote for it should resign, she answered: I will not enter into this logic. Since the prime minister has already said that this is something that has to do with issues of conscience that each and every one has. What I consider to be the most important is that there should be a very wide information, that there should be an exchange of opinions, as it should be in every democratic party and that all opinions should be respected. But the most important thing of all is that when all this is over, in the New Democracy everyone will be united again. There is no way we are not united as a faction and as a party.”