Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has announced that the country will legalize marriage and adoption by same-sex couples. However, Mitsotakis did not provide a specific timeline for when this change will occur in the predominantly Orthodox Christian state. He stated that he wants the discussion on this issue to mature within Greek society before presenting a proposal to the cabinet. Greek media speculates that the legislation will be introduced before the European Parliament elections in June.
Mitsotakis emphasized that the bill will not allow assisted reproduction or parenthood through surrogacy. He firmly stated that women will not be turned into “child production engines on order.” It is expected that this move will cause a divide within Mitsotakis’ conservative New Democracy party, with reports suggesting that less than 100 of the party’s 158 lawmakers will support the bill.
The main opposition leftist Syriza party, led by Stefanos Kasselakis, who is openly gay, considers this issue a priority. Kasselakis and his American husband wish to become parents through surrogacy. However, the Greek Orthodox Church, which holds significant influence in the country’s society and politics, has long opposed same-sex issues.
Previously, under the Syriza government in 2015, Greece legalized civil unions for same-sex couples, making it one of the last countries in the European Union to do so. However, that law did not allow for the adoption of children. In 2013, Greece was condemned by the European Court of Human Rights for anti-gay discrimination after excluding gay couples from a prior civil unions law in 2008.
An opinion poll conducted by Greek pollsters Alco for private TV Alpha showed that 49 percent of Greeks are against legalizing same-sex marriage, while 35 percent are in favor. Among New Democracy voters, negative sentiment is close to 60 percent. In the European Union, 15 states have legalized same-sex marriage, and 16 allow adoption by same-sex couples.
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