The day after the US Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili spoke in an interview with the popular Georgian newspaper Asaval-Dasavali about the inadmissibility of legalizing same-sex marriages in Georgia. Obviously, the main motive is not so much the decision of the US court, but Secretary of State Kerry’s and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s promises "to seek similar solutions for partner countries." As Georgia considers itself a partner of the USA, Garibashvili found it necessary to hint that this partnership would not go so far as to destroy the institution of the family.
"Family is the second temple of the Lord, along with the Church of Christ," the 33-year-old Prime Minister and father of three said, remarking that those who oppose the family are "for private reasons, destroying the foundation on which society is built.’’ He believes that a mere negative assessment of decisions taken in the United States is insufficient and that there must be "constitutional recognition of the inviolability of the family." Therefore, Garibashvili launched an important legislative initiative: "I personally will do everything so that the Constitution will include a provision defining marriage and the family as a union exclusively between a man and a woman."
The United States was criticised even more strongly by the Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Ilia II. During his Sunday sermon, the Catholicos Patriarch said that "there are cases where some countries legitimize lawlessness," and warned of disastrous consequences of such decisions for Georgia.
This view is shared by the vast majority of Georgian society, including those who are far from the church. If you ask them their opinion in a single formula, it is: non-traditional relationships objectively exist and will exist, but marriage and the family is a social institution, and to call "family" what is not really a family is impossible.
Many are concerned about the fate of children eligible for adoption or who will be adopted by a legitimate gay "family". According to psychologists, a child growing up in this "family" would be deeply injured during social adaptation, and communication with peers.
The legalization of same-sex marriages will not happen in Georgia, under any circumstances, even if the United States threatened to cut cooperation with Tbilisi. But this does not mean that the government will easily make changes to the constitution, as them the principle of political expediency comes into force. The Basic Law passed by Parliament 20 years ago declares marriage as an "equitable Union Party" and the Civil Code specifies: marriage is a union between a man and a woman. That is, it seems there is little need to amend the constitution now: to legalize same-sex marriage, in theory, it will be necessary to change the Civil Code, as it applies to the number of "organic laws", which is necessary to change with the support of two-thirds of the deputies.
Nevertheless, the Prime Minister has decided to play on the sentiments of society, at the same time making it clear that the United States does not rule out pressure. Therefore, Garibashvili considers an amendment to the Constitution as the best guarantee. But to change the Basic Law the support of three-quarters of the deputies of the payroll is necessary, and this is too much, even in conditions of full public consensus.
The pro-Western "Republican Party", a member of the ruling coalition, has already spoken about the inacceptability of such a constitutional move. Not to mention the associates of Mikheil Saakashvili's opposition party "United National Movement" (UNM). They are unlikely to support the initiative or approve a constitutional amendment bearing a pronounced anti-American context.
Thus, the initiative of the Prime Minister is a clear political message that goes beyond the stormy debate on the legalization of same-sex marriages. Garibashvili hinted that he would not at all follow in the wake of US policy, meaning that there could be situations where he and his government disobey the "senior partner" on this or any other important issues. As the proverb goes in Georgia: "In the end, you and I are not married."
