Greek Parliament legalises same-sex marriage

176 members of the greek parliament voted in favour of the same-sex civil marriage bill.

The vote took place on Thursday night, and Greece became the 37th country in the world and the first Orthodox Christian to allow same-sex marriage.

Two MPs voted “ present” and 46 abstained.

The bill was supported by New Democracy, SYRIZA, PASOK, New Left and Plefsi Eleftherias, while Communist Party of Greece, Spartans, Greek Solution and Democratic Patriotic Movement - Victory voted against it.

Upon the announcement, the representatives of the LGBTI+ community who attended Greek Parliament celebrated for the result. Meanwhile, dozens of people, gathered in Syntagma square, greeted the announcement waving rainbow flags.

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that the goal has been achieved. About the legislators who opposed to the bill, he said that ‘everyone has their own opinion’.

“We are covering a gap by allowing everyone, if they wish, to institutionally seal their relationship”, said Mitsotakis during his speech before the vote.

The leader of Syriza, Stefanos Kasselakis attended with his husband Tyler McBeth a party at Sodade2 in Gazi, to celebrate the parliament’s result.

Former prime minister Antonis Samaras had told parliament that same-sex marriage was not a human right and the “dangerous” law should not have been introduced.