Monthly Event Reports
February 2024 | Same sex marriage legalized
On 15 February, the Greek parliament passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage and granting same-sex couples the ability to adopt, and full parental rights to those with existing children. The bill doesn’t allow same-sex couples to pursue surrogacy, which is currently allowed only for women, single or married, who are unable to have children for health reasons. The bill received 176 votes in favor,76 against, and 31 abstentions. While several members of the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ centre-right party did not support the bill, it garnered enough support from the leftist opposition to pass. Greece is the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex marriage. The legalization of same-sex marriage is a divisive issue in Greece with especially strong opposition from the Orthodox Church.
November 2023 | Police shooting of 17-year-old Roma boy leads to protests
Police fatally shot an unarmed 17-year-old Roma boy in Boeotia after the driver reportedly evaded a traffic stop leading to a car chase. According to media reports, police related that one of the passengers attempted to steal the officer’s weapon, resulting in it discharging accidentally, whereas the victim’s brother present at the scene has accused the police officer of firing the gun. The officer has been suspended, and prosecutors have charged the officer with homicide and illegal use of a weapon. Greek law allows the use of firearms by police officers only if their safety, or the safety of a third party, is threatened, and prohibits the use of weapons against a person fleeing when called upon to stop. The incident follows previous police shootings of Roma teenagers in December 2022 and October 2021, sparking protests and riots. The killing has triggered debates about police brutality and the treatment of ethnic minorities. Protests have broken out, spearheaded by members of the Roma community, and the Panhellenic Confederation of Greek Roma (Ellan Passe) called on the state to tackle racism and intolerance in connection with the shooting.
August 2023 | Policy failures exacerbate devastation by biggest wildfire recorded in EU
The Syriza opposition party has accused the government of mismanagement of the wildfire and experts say that weaknesses in emergency planning, insufficient coordination between different authorities and the underfunding of the national forestry service have prevented an effective crisis response. Although the government has initiated policy changes, it has shifted the blame to arsonists, arresting 79 people for suspected arson this summer and announcing future tougher penalties for the crime. This has inflamed social divisions, with claims circulating that migrants are committing arson and far-right militias forming to ‘catch’ them. Three vigilantes have been arrested for forcing 13 migrants into a trailer as they blamed them for setting the fires. This prompted the Supreme Court Prosecutor to order an investigation into claims of racism against migrants. Greece saw the largest wildfire recorded in the EU since the bloc started collecting data in 2000. The wildfire has scorched over 80,000 hectares and claimed at least 20 lives, 18 of whom are thought to be migrants.
July 2023 | Parliament enacts law to ease voting from abroad
On 25 July, MPs enacted a law making it easier for Greek citizens abroad to vote in elections, with just over two thirds of legislators voting in favour. The law applies to all nationals living abroad. It abolishes restrictions that prevented many in the Greek diaspora from voting, for instance, removing requirements for a length of stay in Greece necessary to vote. Although Greek nationals were able to vote from abroad in May 2023 and June 2023, voter registration among them remained low. Supporters of the law hope that more Greeks abroad go to the polls and praise the move as beneficial for the equal treatment of voters and therefore democracy. Critics point out that, due to the law of blood which allows anyone with Greek ancestors to claim citizenship and register to vote, the electorate outside of Greece may balloon.
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