Greece on Thursday approved same-sex marriage and the adoption of children by same-sex couples, a major reform backed by a conservative prime minister who said it was a “turning point for human rights”, AFP reported.

With the passage of the law, the Mediterranean country, where the influential Orthodox Church has fiercely opposed the reform, will become the 37th country in the world, the 17th in the European Union and the first Orthodox country to legalize same-sex adoption.

Of the 254 deputies present in the unicameral parliament, 176 voted for the law, 76 against and two abstained at the end of two days of sometimes heated debate.

When the results were announced, dozens of people waved rainbow flags to express their joy outside the parliament in central Athens.

According to Adriana Zachary, a 22-year-old student in front of parliament, the vote was a “historic day” for LGBT+ associations in Greece.

“We are very happy with this result, we have been waiting for it for so long,” she said.

Right-wing Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hailed a “turning point for human rights” in a “progressive and democratic country passionately committed to European values” as the European Parliament expressed concern about “very serious threats to democracy” in a recent resolution. , the rule of law and fundamental rights in Greece”, in particular regarding the reduction of press freedom.

“Starting tomorrow, another barrier between us (citizens, no) will be removed and will become a bridge of coexistence in a free state between free citizens,” he assured during a speech to deputies earlier in the day.

There was little doubt that the bill would pass, given the support of several left-wing opposition parties.

But Mitsotakis faced opposition from the more conservative wing of his New Democracy (ND) party, which opposed the reforms.

Emblematic measure

Comfortably re-elected last year, he made same-sex marriage one of the top measures of his second term.

It “significantly improves the lives of our fellow gay citizens” and their children, he said, stressing that it was an “existing social reality” and that by voting for same-sex marriage, MPs would eliminate a “serious inequality for democracy”. Our”.

Greece has had a civil union since 2015, but it does not offer the same legal guarantees as a civil marriage.

The Prime Minister also emphasized the need to put an end to unclear situations regarding same-sex parenthood.

Until now, only the biological parents had rights to the child. In case of death of one parent, the state deprives the other parent of custody.

And children of both parents cannot receive identity documents, because the mother’s name is mandatory for marital status.