Greece Legalizes Same-sex Marriage | DW News

Feb 16, 2024 | Greece has voted to legalise same-sex marriage, making it the first Orthodox Christian country to do so. The law change was opposed by the Orthodox church, which claimed it would threaten what it called 'traditional families'. But supporters say the change is long overdue and a significant advance for Greek society. DW spoke to journalist Giorgos Christides.

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Griechenland beschließt Ehe für alle: Griechenlands Parlament hat für die Einführung der Ehe für alle gestimmt. Die orthodoxe Kirche und einige Konservative rebellieren. »

Greece Becomes First Orthodox Christian Country to Legalise Same-sex Marriage

GUARDIAN EUROPE: Lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament voted for the bill drafted by centre-right government despite church officials’ objections

Greece has become the world’s first Christian Orthodox nation to legalise same-sex marriage after the Athens parliament passed the landmark reform amid scenes of both jubilation and fury in the country.

In a rare display of parliamentary consensus, 176 MPs from across the political spectrum voted in favour of the bill. 76 rejected the reform while two abstained from the vote and 46 were not present.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community, many unable to contain their emotion, watched from the galleries above. “We have waited years for this,” said the prominent gay activist Stella Belia of legislation that will not only allow same-sex couples to exchange vows in civil ceremonies but adopt children. “It’s a historic moment. A lot of us weren’t sure it would ever come.”

The vote followed two days of heated debate – and weeks of public rancour – with the reform described by supporters as “bold” and “long overdue” and decried as “antisocial’ and “unchristian” by opponents including the powerful Orthodox church. » | Helena Smith in Athens | Friday, February 16, 2024

La Grèce légalise le mariage et l’adoption pour les couples de même sexe : Porté par le parti de droite au pouvoir, Nouvelle Démocratie, du premier ministre, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, le texte a été approuvé par 176 des 254 députés présents au Parlement à l’issue de deux jours de débat. »

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Greek PM Faces Fierce Opposition over Pledge to Legalise Gay Marriage

THE GUARDIAN: MPs in his own cabinet are against move, while powerful Orthodox church fear it could lead to dismantlement of society

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: ‘It is not something radically different from what applies in other European countries.’ Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, appears to be facing one of his most daunting challenges yet after a pledge to legalise same-sex marriage ignited fierce debate in the Orthodox Christian country.

Throwing his weight behind an issue still prone to provoke extraordinary emotion, not least among his own MPs, Mitsotakis acknowledged he would have to use his skills of persuasion to push through the reform as opposition mounted within his centre-right New Democracy party.

“I, and all those who believe in this legislation, must convince our parliamentarians and subsequently those who may still have a negative stance,” he said in his first interview of the year with the country’s public broadcaster ERT. “What we are going to legislate is equality in marriage, which means the elimination of any discrimination based on sexual orientation. It is not something radically different from what applies in other European countries.” » | Helena Smith in Athens | Thursday, January 11, 2024

Parthenon Marbles Row: Rishi Sunak Cancels Meeting with Greek PM

THE GUARDIAN: Tory source says ‘it became impossible for meeting to go ahead’ after Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged return of antiquities to Athens

Greece’s prime minister has criticised the decision of his British counterpart Rishi Sunak to cancel planned talks at which he had hoped to raise the issue of the Parthenon marbles, as disagreements over the antiquities erupted with renewed vigour.

As aides described Sunak’s move as “wrong and undignified”, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who is visiting London, voiced irritation at the scheduled Downing Street meeting being called off at the 11th hour.

“I [want to] express my annoyance at the fact that the British prime minister cancelled our scheduled meeting a few hours before it was due to take place,” the centre-right leader said in a statement released by his Maximou office as the diplomatic row intensified.

“Greece and Britain are united by traditionally strong ties of friendship and the framework of our bilateral relations is exceptionally broad. The views of Greece on the Parthenon sculptures are well known.

“I had hoped to have the opportunity to discuss them with my British counterpart along with other international challenges: Gaza; Ukraine; the climate crisis; migration.”

The statement ended with Mitsotakis berating Sunak for failing to rise to the challenge of discussing the fate of antiquities that have spawned the west’s longest running cultural row. “Whoever believes in the correctness and justice of his views is never afraid of opposing arguments,” it read. » | Helena Smith in Athens | Monday, November 27, 2023

Fishy goings on in Rishi’s Downing Street hideaway! I hadn’t known before this that being rude to prime ministers of other European nations was in our own prime minister’s remit. Does Rishi's rude behaviour show lack of courage or lack of politesse, or perhaps a lack of both? – © Mark Alexander

Hundreds Stranded without Food in Greece Floods - BBC News

Sep 8, 2023 | In Greece, hundreds of people are stranded without food or water after a devastating storm killed at least 10 people and caused enormous damage.

Storm Daniel was the worst to hit the country for more than a century. It's left a trail of devastation across the central region of Thessaly. Homes were swept away, roads and bridges collapsed and much of Greece's best agricultural land, is now under water.

Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten; reporting by Sofia Bettiza in Larissa.

Hundreds of Firefighters Continue to Battle Wildfires across Europe - BBC News

Jul 28, 2023 | Wildfires continue to spread across Europe and the Mediterranean, with hundreds of firefighters tackling fires in countries like Italy and Greece. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said his country needs to take more steps to combat the effects of climate change. The BBC’s Bethany Bell and Sofia Bettiza report from Rhodes and southern Italy.

Greece Wildfires: Two Pilots Dead as Plane Crashes Fighting Flames

ul 25, 2023 | Greece has declared three days of national mourning for its armed forces - after two air force pilots were killed as they battled the intense wildfires which have been raging across the south of the country for days. With flames still spreading in the scorching heat and strong winds - more people have been evacuated from Rhodes and Corfu. While Italy is also in the grip of extreme weather - forcing hundreds of people to flee their homes.

Rhodes and Corfu Wildfires: Thousands Evacuated from Island Fires - BBC News

Jul 14, 2023 | Wildfires on Rhodes have forced 19,000 people to be evacuated from homes and holiday accommodation.

Flights are due to land on the Greek island later on Monday to bring back stranded holidaymakers. Tourists have been sleeping at the airport, makeshift rescue centres and on the street, after the flames threatened holiday resorts. At least three hotels have been destroyed in the dense forest area of Kiotari on the east of the island.

Another evacuation order was issued for parts of Corfu, some 1,027km (670 miles) miles away, on Sunday evening.


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Greece: Wildfires Break Out on Corfu and Evia as 19,000 Flee Rhodes Blazes

THE GUARDIAN: Boats ready to pick up evacuees on Corfu as heatwave continues and firefighters tackle blazes on Rhodes that sparked Greece’s largest wildfire evacuation

Firefighters in Greece were struggling to contain 82 wildfires burning across the country, 64 of which started on Sunday, the hottest day of the summer so far.

As well as huge blazes on the island of Rhodes, which forced 19,000 to flee, wildfires also broke out on the islands of Evia and Corfu.

On Evia, authorities told residents of four southern villages to evacuate to the town of Karystos, west of where the fire was advancing. » | Guardian staff and agencies | Monday, July 24, 2023

Rhodes: Thousands Evacuated from Greek Island as Wildfires Spread – BBC News

Jul 23, 2023 | Thousands of people have been evacuated from homes and hotels on the Greek island of Rhodes after wildfires engulfed large parts of the island. Greece's fire service told the BBC it apologises for what it called "a mess" on the island, warning that the situation could worsen due to weather. More than 3,500 people have been evacuated by land and sea to safety.

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Greece Fires: Thousands Flee Homes and Hotels on Rhodes as Fires Spread

A blaze takes hold of woodland on Rhodes | REUTERS
BBC: Thousands of people have been evacuated from homes and hotels on the Greek island of Rhodes after wildfires engulfed large parts of the island.

The country's fire service has described the fires as the most difficult it is currently facing.

It is estimated more than 2,000 people have been moved by land and sea to safer locations.

The island has been battling wildfires fanned by strong winds since Tuesday, amidst a heatwave in Europe.

No injuries have been reported, according to the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection in Greece.

It said visitors are being evacuated safely from the affected areas of Rhodes - which represent less than 10% of the island's tourist accommodation - and are being redirected to other hotels on the island. » | Siobhan Toman, Andre Rhoden-Paul & Rozina Sini, BBC News | Saturday, July 22, 2023

Europe heatwave: Temperatures to soar in Greece as fires still burn: Greece is bracing for more intense heat this weekend, with meteorologists warning that temperatures could climb as high as 45C (113F). »

En Grèce, près de 2 000 touristes évacués de l’île de Rhodes, en proie à de violents Incendies : Le pays est frappé par une canicule qui devrait durer « de seize à dix-sept jours, ce qui n’est jamais arrivé auparavant », selon l’Observatoire national d’Athènes. »

Europe Braces for Record Heat as Wildfires Hit Greece | DW News

Jul 18, 2023 | Greece has been especially hard hit by wildfires. The normal summertime dangers are being made worse by a heat wave. Firefighting services are now trying to fight the flames in several different regions while keeping residents and visitors at a safe distance.

Is Greece in a Permanent Crisis? - ARTE

May 24, 2023 | The catastrophic train crash at Larissa in February 2023 provoked angry protests against the Greek government. Is this accident a symptom of a deeper problems?

Greece’s Conservative Party Wins Big in National Election

May 22, 2023 | Greece's governing conservatives have won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections. With most votes counted, the New Democracy party has a commanding lead over left-wing rival Syriza. But it has fallen short of the majority needed to form a government on its own, making a run-off election likely in July. Al Jazeera's Stefanie Dekker reports from Athens, Greece.

The Guardian view on the Greek election: the new hegemony: A handsome victory for the centre-right is dismal news for those who have suffered from years of austerity »

Climate Change: Europe's First Heat Officer | DW Documentary

Aug 8, 2022 Eleni Myrivili has the mammoth task of ensuring the survival of Athens. As the city's newly appointed "chief heat officer," she is working on ways to prepare the Greek capital for the consequences of climate change. That's no small feat: The city has 3 million residents — and is almost unbearable in summer.

One possible solution to the heat problem dates all the way back to antiquity: Hadrian's Aqueduct, a subterranean tunnel constructed under Roman rule stretches nearly 20 kilometers (12 miles) under Athens. Water from this tunnel will be used to irrigate parks across the city, creating a cool green corridor. But Eleni Myrivili's tasks are not limited to city planning. She is also responsible for providing emergency aid for people directly affected by the heat. Despite the ever-worsening situation, she has observed a worrying trend: Many people in Athens still accept the heat and climate change as fate. Can Myrivili change people's perceptions? A report by Gunnar Köhne.

Moussaka - How One Of Greece's Most Traditional Dishes Is Made | DW Food

Jul 29, 2022 If you've ever been to Greece, you've likely sampled the most Greek of all dishes – moussaka! It’s traditionally made with eggplant, potatoes, ground beef, and béchamel sauce. A cornerstone of Greek cuisine, it’s as popular with visitors as it is with the locals.

Large Wildfire Damages Homes Near Athens, Evokes Memories of Last Year's Devastation | DW News

Jun 5, 2022 • Wildfires near Greece's capital Athens have forced people to evacuate their homes. They were apparently sparked by a blaze at a power station, with strong winds then fanning the flames. Authorities expressed concerns this could be a repeat of last summer, when fires devastated more than 125,000 hectares.

Greece: Petrol Bombs Fly on Thessaloniki Streets as University Squat Protest Turns Violent

A protest in support of a 34-year-old squat in the basement of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki turned violent on Saturday.

Unidentified protesters threw petrol bombs at the police who responded with tear gas. Several were detained amid clashes.

The university squat, which had been allegedly used as a hideout for self-styled anarchists, had been cleared out in December in a police operation.

Greece Makes Vaccines Mandatory for People 60 or Older, with Fines for Not Complying.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: In a bid to bolster vaccinations among older people, the prime minister of Greece announced on Tuesday that Covid shots would be obligatory for people ages 60 or older, and that those who failed to book a first shot by Jan. 16 would face fines.

Τhe move came as the Greek health authorities try to curb a spike in coronavirus cases and deaths, while bracing for the possible effect of the Omicron variant.

About 500,000 people in Greece ages 60 or older have yet to be vaccinated against Covid-19, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told a cabinet meeting. Those who fail to meet the deadline will face a monthly fine of 100 euros ($113), the revenue from which will go toward funding state hospitals that have been stretched by the pandemic, he said.

Describing the policy as “an act of justice for the vaccinated,” Mr. Mitsotakis said he had worried about penalizing people but hoped they would see the move as an act of “encouragement, not repression.” » | Niki Kitsantonis | Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Wildfires in Greece Spark Criticism of the Government | DW News

Aug 14, 2021 • Greece is looking for strategies to better prepare for wildfires in the future. On the island of Evia, some residents say authorities have been negligent.