By Penelope Galliou

In mild tones, without outbursts and direct confrontations, but with many of the New Democratic MPs maintaining their reservations and concerns, the two-day process of informing the ND MPs on the same-sex couple bill was completed. The tally, although government officials said it is still too early and the “account” will be credited after the vote on the bill in Parliament, does not seem to register a spectacular reversal in one direction or the other.

Dissenters, concerned and supporters of the regulation for same-sex couples, more than 60 ND MPs, crossed the threshold of the ND headquarters on Piraeus Street for the second day to inform the second group of blue MPs. The mood both in the presence of MPs and inside showed that all sides “held their ground” as those who strongly disagree with the bill seem to be sticking to their position, as well as supporters, as expected. The only “liquid reservoir” seems to be that of the deputies who had reservations and after the information, some of them relented, but not all of them.

Despite the explanations and clarifications given for the upcoming legislative regulation, both by the Minister of State Akis Skertsos, and by distinguished legal scholars who attended and contributed to the briefing, the biggest thorn, not only for the dissenting MPs, but also for those who appear concerned, it is the part of procreation, noting that since the marriage of same-sex couples opens the way for procreation as well, the concern remains and its imprint will now be seen in the Parliament, during the voting of the bill.

Some MPs argued that its institutionalization could lead to medically assisted reproduction through the European Court, even though the government rejects it and it is not included in the bill.

Among those who were nevertheless convinced and changed their stance, Evritania MP Gina Economou was recorded, who, while she was concerned about the legislative regulation, after the briefing and after noting that during the process “they did not try to get a vote, we exchanged opinions, we come out with more knowledge” declared her decision to finally vote on the bill when it comes to Parliament. “Now we can make the right decisions. I will vote,” he said.

The same category was joined by Kavala MP Makarios Lazaridis who had reservations about the bill, but as he stated after the framework set by the prime minister “and the fact that there is no provision for surrogate motherhood and the terms “Parent 1 and Parent 2 convinced me and will I support the law,” he said.

On the contrary, without wanting to create a problem for the government as he stated, photographing their possible abstention from the vote, the Member of Parliament A’ Thessaloniki Stratos Simopoulos continues and maintains his objections, considering that “with this bill we may create in the medium and long term destabilization of the nuclear family “However, he added that “in no case do I wish to create a political problem for the government”.

Firmly “against” the regulation, Thanos Pleuris insists, during the briefing he reportedly defended his views, arguing that the marriage of same-sex couples is not a human right based on the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights.

“Whether we want to adopt it as a right is another discussion,” the ND parliamentary representative reportedly said and noted that in 2018 we had opposed adoption by same-sex couples.” Today, a child whose biological parent dies will never go to an institution , there are strong safeguards in the system,” he noted.

Views to which the Minister of State Akis Skertsos responded, recalling that after 2019 the National Plan for the rights of LGBTI+ was drawn up and joined the ND program, with which, as he recently noted speaking on SKAI TV, ND MPs were elected .

Larissa MP Maximos Harakopoulos also remained opposed to the regulation, stating that “he has expressed his views and does not change them like shirts”. He indirectly but clearly expressed his objections by saying that “the child has the right to grow up with a father and a mother and I will vote for that,” he said.

Whether on one side or the other, everyone on Piraeus Street agreed that the dialogue is constructive and useful and in no way does even the ongoing disagreements shake the unity of the party. A joint recommendation that keeps Maximos Palace in the positives of the entire process followed to inform its members, while the effort to remove the objections will continue until the last moment, as a government source commented, in order for the bill to be passed by as large a majority as possible number of deputies.

“Through every such process for any issue, we move forward even stronger” commented the government representative, Pavlos Marinakis, who was not absent from Piraeus Street on both days, expressing at the same time his optimism for the result that the information process will bring. “Dialogue always wins” argued Mr. Marinakis.

The only “dissonance”, in the otherwise calm and thorough debate, was the dialogue recorded between the MPs Giorgos Stamatis, who calls for even more advanced regulation, including surrogate motherhood, and Vassilis Yogiakas, who has declared that he will vote against the bill:

GIORGOS STAMATIS We are bringing half a bill. We had to have the surrogate as well. although I don’t go down with a vote, my position is this.

VASILIS GIOGIAKAS: I will tell the president next time to take you down with a cross.

GIORGOS VLACHOS Let’s not make a fuss in here.