For the first time same-sex couples can become foster parents (but not adoptive parents) of the same child in Greece.

Article 8 was adopted with a substantial majority:

for the first time same-sex couples can become foster parents (but not adoptive parents) of the same child in Greece.

Article 8 as amended by the Minister

Yes 161           No 103                        Present 0

The bill that caused political and ideological turbulence, both in Parliament and in civil society, because it acknowledged the fundamental right of same-sex couples that have signed a civil union to access foster care, was finally voted for by a substantial majority.

How the parties voted

The bill was granted a support in principle by the majority parties, as well as by Democratic Alliance, Potami and New Democracy. The Communist Party voted “present” whereas Centre Union united with Golden Dawn (extreme right) and voted against.

How the MPs voted

Yes / No / Present

When it came to a roll-call vote on the article in question, 161 voted for, 103 against, 3 present and 36 absent. SYRIZA (Radical Left Coalition, now in government) MPs Michelogiannakis and Parastatidis voted against, whereas Karagiannis, Bolaris, Gennia, Kassimati, Katrougalos, Kontonis and Vagena were absent.

From ANEL (Independent Greeks, also in government) only Papachristopoulos and Zouraris voted for the article, while Kammenos and Kountoura were absent, and the remaining 5 MPs voted against.

The shadow government party, whose final approach was a mystery till the very last moment because of repeated disagreements, took a position against the article, yet granted MPs the right to follow their own conscience. The article was voted for only by four female MPs – Kefalogianni, Markou, Kerameos and Bakogianni. Present Party President Mitsotakis voted against it and former Presidents Karamanlis and Samaras were absent, along with another 6 MPs.

All Potami MPs voted for the article, while Democratic Alliance did not have a common position. From Gennimata’s side 13 MPs voted for it and the rest were absent. Specifically the following MPs were for the article: Ilhan, Venizelos, Gennimata, Grigorakos, Theocharopoulos, Kengeroglou, Kefalidou, Koutsoukos, Maniatis, Bargiotas, Papatheodorou, Skandalidis and Christofilopoulou. Loverdos, Konstantopoulos, Konstantinopoulos, Karras, Kremastinos, Arvanitidis and Tzelepis were absent.

Finally, only 7 out of 15 MPs of the Communist Party were present and voted against article 8.

Source: Documento – Antivirus