Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. (Photo courtesy of Mitsotakis’ office)
Speaking with a reporter from Bloomberg Television last week, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis voiced his support to legalize same-sex marriage in this Balkan country during the new legislative session.
This echoed the prime minister’s remarks made shortly after the leader of the center-right New Democracy party was been sworn in as the prime minister of Greece for a second term. Addressing the Greek Parliament, Mitsotakis said:
“Today, we are in a new beginning. Citizens expect bold steps into a future they can’t wait. So together let’s start the journey towards optimistic Greece of 2030. With a vision, a plan and a lot of work.
So at the start of our new term, I will not promise miracles. Only perseverance and hard work. ‘Is it possible?’ some had asked in 2019. ‘And yet, it is possible,’ we answered them in the first four years. This is how we will continue in the coming years.
We want it, we can and we will.
We must be a government of all Greeks and all Greeks. At the beginning of the new legislative period, I want to express my unwavering will that the new administration fully fulfills the expectations of the citizens.”
Speaking with Bloomberg the prime minister noted: “Same-sex marriage will happen at some point and it’s part of our strategy,” adding that “Greek society is much more ready and mature.”
Greece has recognized same-sex civil unions since 2015; this move by Mitsotakis would mean fuller equality for LGBTQ Greeks. The country has made significant advances for LGBTQ equality rights in a broader sense. ILGA-Europe’s annual Rainbow Europe index, which ranks the best and worst places to be LGBTQ in Europe, placed Greece at 13 out of 49 countries — higher than places such as the U.K., Ireland and Germany.
In May 2022, the country passed a law that banned the use of so-called conversion therapy, a widely discredited practice that has been condemned by global medical groups. Previously in January 2022, Health Minister Thanos Plevris and Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga issued a decree allowing men who have sex with other males to donate blood without restrictions.
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