A contentious legislative provision added to an unrelated bill and later used by a conservative minister in her ongoing custody dispute with her former husband was passed in Parliament without prior public consultation, Kathimerini has confirmed contradicting the government’s account.

The provision, introduced as a rider to legislation concerning the scandal-hit farm subsidy agency OPEKEPE, allows a parent to request that a custody case be retried at first instance if they object to an initial ruling, bypassing the appeal process. Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, who lost sole custody of her children in a court decision issued shortly before the provision was passed, was the first litigant to invoke the amendment. She has denied claims that she orchestrated the provision, saying she merely took advantage of it because it was relevant to her case.

The proposed legislation was posted for public consultation on November 24, 2025, until December 8, 2025. The bill contained 103 articles but did not include the modification of the disputed article, Article 1536.

On December 9, 2025, the bill was submitted to Parliament, this time including 134 additional articles, among them the modification of the controversial provision in Article 109. Several of the additions were unrelated to the original subject of the legislation.

Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis and Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis have defended the provision, saying it was first subject to public consultation.

On Monday, main opposition PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis called for Floridis’ resignation over his handling of the case. “For me, he can no longer serve as a minister,” Androulakis said.

Source: Ekathimerini.com