Marinakis: 'Terzoudis answered any remaining questions about Mati'

The only obligation of every person in public office is to strive so that the state does everything in its power to ensure that a tragedy like that in Mati never happens again, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said on Friday to SKAI radio station.

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He also referred to the testimony of former fire brigade chief Sotiris Terzoudis, saying this had "answered any remaining questions".

Asked why the government did not impose party discipline regarding the vote on same-sex marriage, Marinakis said ruling New Democracy had a "long tradition" of allowing a vote according to conscience on issues regarding rights.

On the issue of adoption, in particular, he pointed out that the law currently allows single men or women to adopt a child, without examining any potential partner they may have on the basis of civil partnership agreements. He noted that ND's parliamentary group will be briefed in detail and that there will be no change to the law on surrogate motherhood.

While stressing that the government was confident that the draft legislation will be voted for by the greatest possible number of ND deputies, he also said that dissenters will not generate "a political issue" in a vote according to conscience.

He said it was "political courage" on the part of the prime minister to bring this issue to the forefront and ask MPs to vote for it. On ministers that may possible fail to support the bill, he said the prime minister had clearly referred to a "heightened responsibility" of members of the cabinet, where such decisions and bills are approved.

Regarding high prices, Marinakis said that these were being discussed in all countries and that the inflation was imported, not a "Mitsotakis problem, as the opposition claims". He said the government was trying to address the issue in the best possible way, with targeted measures and by increasing incomes, but it will not be solved "at the press of a button".