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Greece legalises same-sex marriage

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Greece has recently made headlines by becoming the first Christian Orthodox-majority nation to legalize same-sex marriage and allow same-sex couples to adopt children. The decision, which followed a parliamentary vote of 176-76, marks a significant milestone in the nation’s history.

However, the move has not been without controversy, as it has sparked division within the country, particularly with opposition led by the Orthodox Church. The Church views the measure as a threat to social cohesion and has been vocal in its resistance against the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Despite the opposition, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis championed the bill, emphasizing its importance in abolishing inequality. Mitsotakis secured the necessary support from opposition parties to pass the bill, highlighting the collaborative effort required to enact this historic legislation.

The decision to legalize same-sex marriage and allow same-sex couples to adopt children has been celebrated by LGBTQ organizations in Greece as a significant step towards equality and inclusivity. It represents a turning point in the nation’s stance on LGBTQ rights, bringing Greece closer to its European counterparts that have already embraced marriage equality.

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How the Elgin Marbles scream injustice for most Greeks

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More than 200 years after their removal by Lord Elgin, the Elgin Marbles remain a contentious issue, symbolizing perceived injustice among the majority of Greeks. The British claim of ownership is widely rejected, and the sculptures, often referred to as the Parthenon Sculptures, are seen as stolen treasures, taken through imperial theft.

In central Athens, a consensus prevails among the people, regardless of age, asserting that the Parthenon and its sculptures rightfully belong to Greece. The argument that the British Museum ensures better preservation is dismissed, with anecdotes about issues like a leaking roof at the museum cited as evidence to the contrary.

At the foot of the Acropolis, a dedicated museum has been waiting for 14 years to showcase the missing marbles upon their return. While countries like Italy have expressed willingness to return Greek antiquities, the British government has not followed suit, maintaining a contentious stance on the issue.

The cancellation of a meeting between UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has strained diplomatic relations. Cabinet minister Adonis Georgiadis, expressing a sense of offense, underscores the bipartisan unity in Greece, asserting that the return of the marbles is not merely a political stance but a matter of national and cultural significance.

Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis reinforces the claim, emphasizing the historical, just, and ecumenical cultural value attached to the sculptures. Despite the strained relations, there is a hope for a resolution, with Georgiadis expressing the wish for the British Museum to find a “reasonable way out” of a predicament seen as a “disgrace” by many Greeks.

Among the late-night shoppers in Athens, skepticism towards the British Museum’s motivations is evident, with some attributing the reluctance to financial concerns. The sentiment among Athenians is that the return of the marbles would not only make Greeks happy but also foster goodwill globally, promoting fairness and reasonability.

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Greek Minister Steps Down Following Death of Passenger on Delayed Ferry

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Greece’s shipping minister, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, has resigned due to controversial remarks he made on television in the wake of a passenger’s death, allegedly pushed off a ferry by crew members.

Varvitsiotis expressed that his statements, which appeared to support the ferry’s crew in the incident, were “misinterpreted.”

Criminal charges have been filed against the ship’s captain and three crew members regarding the incident at the port of Piraeus in Athens, which has sparked outrage in Greece.

A video on social media depicted the 36-year-old passenger, Antonis Kargiotis, attempting to board the Blue Horizon ferry as it was departing from Athens to Crete. Crew members on the loading ramp seemed to physically prevent him from boarding, and he was subsequently pushed into the sea. The ferry continued its voyage as scheduled but returned to port as instructed by authorities, where Kargiotis’ body was recovered.

Varvitsiotis faced severe criticism for his remarks, with Greek newspaper Ekathimerini describing them as “entirely misguided and deeply regrettable.”

In a statement on social media, Varvitsiotis expressed shock over Kargiotis’ death and claimed that his comments had been “misinterpreted,” emphasizing that he did not equate the victim with the perpetrators and expressing his discomfort with the backlash he received.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed disgust and horror over the incident, attributing it to a combination of irresponsibility, cynicism, contempt, and indifference. He pledged that the state would fulfill its duty.

The ferry’s captain and three crew members faced a prosecutor on September 6, the day following the passenger’s death. The captain is charged with felony dangerous interference with maritime traffic, while the crew member accused of pushing the passenger faces charges of manslaughter with potential malice. Two other crew members are being prosecuted for complicity in manslaughter.

Attica Group, the owner of the Blue Horizon ferry line, issued a statement expressing devastation over the tragic incident and pledging cooperation with the authorities.

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Greek conservative party aims for a majority win in upcoming election led by Mitsotakis

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In Greece, conservative ex-Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is seeking a strong majority as voters head to the polls for the second time in a month. Mitsotakis emerged victorious in May’s election and called for new elections in order to govern without coalition partners.

Despite a recent migrant boat tragedy that claimed the lives of an estimated 500 people, the incident has had minimal impact on the election campaign. Mitsotakis’s New Democracy party secured a significant 20-point lead over the center-left Syriza party, led by former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, and he is confident of a repeat victory that would grant him a second term. Voting will continue until 19:00 (16:00 GMT).

Mitsotakis argues that a stable government requires a majority of more than 150 seats in the 300-seat parliament. Notably, the winning party in this election will be awarded between 20 and 50 bonus seats, potentially bolstering Mitsotakis’s mandate. Recognized for stabilizing and fostering growth in the Greek economy following a severe debt crisis and multiple bailouts, Mitsotakis has established a resilient image despite facing various crises over the past year.

Tsipras faces a challenging task in this election, with Mitsotakis focusing on his accomplishments and promising lower taxes and improved public health. The two leaders diverged in their responses to the recent migrant boat sinking, with Mitsotakis defending the coastguard and condemning people smugglers, while Tsipras raised concerns and highlighted his government’s previous focus on preserving human life during the 2015 European migrant crisis.

Greek voters’ views on migration have shifted toward stricter and more conservative policies since the 2020 migration crisis on the Evros River, which reinforced perceptions of migration as an external threat to national sovereignty. Additionally, Mitsotakis benefits from the fragmentation of the Greek left, with the Socialists now the third political force in Greece, making it unlikely for left-of-center parties to form a coalition with the conservatives.

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Greek election: Centre-right Mitsotakis hails big win but wants majority

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Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the conservative Prime Minister of Greece, has won the national elections with his New Democracy party. The party secured almost 41% of the vote, falling just five seats short of a majority. Mitsotakis hailed the victory as a “political earthquake.” His center-left rival, Alexis Tsipras of the Syriza party, congratulated him, although his own party had a poor result of 20%.

Mitsotakis stated that the election result showed that the Greek people had given his party a mandate for a four-year government. He emphasized that the people wanted a Greece governed by a majority government led by New Democracy without the assistance of other parties.

The initial exit poll indicated the unexpectedly large scale of New Democracy’s victory, and as the results emerged, it became clear that pre-election polls had underestimated the significant margin between the two main parties. New Democracy won 146 seats, just five short of the 151 required for a majority.

Mitsotakis indicated in his victory speech that he would not seek to form a coalition government but would opt for a second election in late June. Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou would offer him a mandate to form a coalition, which he is likely to refuse. If Mitsotakis refuses, the president will pass the mandate to the next two parties, and if that fails, a caretaker government will be arranged until new elections.

The result was a significant setback for Alexis Tsipras, who came to power in 2015 campaigning against international bailouts and austerity measures but ultimately agreed to creditors’ demands. The center-right has governed Greece for the past four years, and Mitsotakis campaigned on the promise of continuing the country’s economic growth.

The outcome of the elections was seen as a positive response from Greeks, who believed that Mitsotakis was the most trustworthy leader to steer the Greek economy forward and build on recent growth.

In the previous elections, winning 41% of the vote would have been enough to secure a majority in Greece’s 300-seat parliament. However, the rules have changed, and now a winning party requires more than 45% to secure a majority due to the elimination of a 50-seat bonus in the first round. This makes a second election more likely.

Mitsotakis will likely aim to secure the extra seats he would be entitled to if he wins the second election, which would provide him with four years in power and the ability to form a cabinet of his choice. If he considers coalition talks, Pasok, the socialist rival of Syriza, would be a potential partner as one of the election’s winners with 11.5% of the vote. However, such talks may be complicated due to a wiretap scandal involving Pasok leader Nikos Androulakis.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis comes from a prominent Greek political family. His father, Konstantinos Mitsotakis, served as prime minister in the early 1990s, his sister Dora Bakoyannis was a foreign minister, and his nephew, Kostas Bakoyannis, is the current mayor of Athens.

A tragic rail accident that occurred in February, resulting in the death of 57 people, did not have an apparent impact on the election result. Opposition parties had highlighted the accident as a symptom of a dysfunctional state that had suffered from years of economic crisis and under-investment.

Initial analysis of voting by Greek TV suggested that among voters aged 17-24, 31.5% supported New Democracy, which was almost three points higher than the support for Syriza. Some first-time voters expressed their desire for something new and different, leading them to vote for Syriza.

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