The Parliament, with 49 votes in favor and one abstention, passed a bill to amend the Constitution, which concerns family law.
Specifically, the bill deletes the provision of the Constitution according to which the composition of the Family Court is determined, expands the scope of competence of the Family Courts, so that they can adjudicate any family dispute, regardless of whether the parties belong to the Greek Orthodox Church or a religious group and the provision defining the reasons for divorce is deleted, including the reasons provided for in the Charter of the Church, so that these are provided for by law.
At the same time, the bill to amend the Law on Family Courts was passed, in order to determine the composition of the Family Courts, the required qualifications, powers and duties of these judges.
The Parliament also approved the law amending the Law on Attempted Conciliation and Spiritual Resolution of Marriage, in order to revise the provisions regarding attempted reconciliation and spiritual resolution of marriage and to transfer, to the provisions of the basic law, the provisions regarding the process of attempted conciliation and spiritual dissolution of marriage which was ordained in accordance with the rules of a religious group, contained in the Family Courts (Religious Groups) Act.
Locations of MPs
The President of the Legal Committee, MP of DISY Nikos Tornaritis said that today an important step is being taken that responds to important requests of citizens and society and we now have a child-centered reform of family law.
We have, he continued, an important reform in front of us, we moved in absolute consensus and let's keep the big step.
Fotini Tsiridou said that we are now proceeding with fast and fair adjudication of cases and that responsibilities have already been removed from the Church.
Aristos Damianou of AKEL said that we must all recognize that what we are voting on today is an important part and step of modernization, adding that we managed to find convergences with the Ministry of Justice. Now, he said, all citizens regardless of ethnic or religious origin will be treated equally, children's rights are guaranteed and discrimination against divorced women is eliminated.
Andreas Pasiourtidis of AKEL said that there is evidence submitted by the Church and the Ministry of Justice that proves that the existing legislation on divorces and the role of the Church is useless but some insist on not admitting it.
Panikos Leonidou of DIKO said that the procedures are now speeding up by abolishing, for example, the three-member court for disputes in marriage and that there is a saving of time and money and suffering.
Alekos Tryfonidis of DIPA said that our interest now is the children and the possible devastating consequences that divorces have on their mental health.
Source: KYPE