A very clear “NO to same sex marriage” by arch-concervative State Minister Makis Voridis stirred up the government of New Democracy on Thursday, while Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reportedly plan to bring the relevant legislation for voting in the Parliament before the end of the year.
Speaking to Open TV, Voridis said he would resign if the Premier was to request party discipline in a parliamentary vote for a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage and expand adoption rights to same-sex couples.
“The prime minister has not decided the specific time of the initiative in question, I have nothing else to add to what I have said. My positions are the same,” he stressed.
He added that PM Mitsotakis will allow New Democracy MPs to vote “based on their conscience.”. Asked if this will apply to ministers, he responded: “I don’t know. From what I understand, (it will apply) to the ministers as well,” adding that “in matters of conscience, it is understood that I cannot back down. If someone tells me, ‘you must do this,’ I can’t do it.”
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis has made clear that “no party discipline will be imposed.”
In July, Mitsotakis had announced his intention to legalize same-sex marriage during his second term in office, asserting, “same-sex marriage will happen at some point, and it’s part of our strategy.” He went on to emphasize that “Greek society is much more ready and mature.”
Voridis was a lawmaker for the right-wing, nationalist Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) from 2005 until 2012, when he quit to join New Democracy.
Other ministers raise objections too
According to media information, Voridis’s positions on the issue found positive resonance among other ministers of Mitsotakis’ cabinet.
Other ministers have also raised objections regarding the bill, which will probably not be adopted, noted daily ethnos.gr.
Dissenters believe that in this case the government will have “made a hole in the water,” since both the MPs and the LGBTI communities will not be satisfied.
Some consider that the Civil Partnership agreement already “covers” the marriage of same sex-couples, so it does not need to be further legislated, while others do not want that “adoption” is included in the bill.
So the only thing the prime minister will gain – some emphasize – is grumbling and dissatisfaction from both sides, some ND officials and lawmakers
After all, many point out that if the bill also provides for adoption by same sex-couples, then it is very likely that it will not pass the Plenary Session of the Parliament, even if the majority of opposition parties vote in favor.