Sex bill will up claims, MPs argue
A law introducing tougher penalties for sexual harassment could provoke unfair legal claims, some lawmakers said yesterday. Parliament approved a draft bill yesterday that makes sexual harassment a punishable offense for the first time in Greece. Those found guilty of the offense could face jail terms of up to three years and fines starting from 1,000 euros. On Monday, though, legal experts questioned the wording, saying the law will be difficult to apply. Some MPs argue that the language in the law assumes the alleged harasser is guilty unless he can prove his innocence. «If people realize what has been approved, then we will have a flurry of claims for compensations from supposed victims who have been passed over for promotions,» said New Democracy MP Miltiadis Varvitsiotis. Based on the experience of other countries, there is often an increase of sexual harassment lawsuits once legislation takes effect but this only lasts for six to eight months, said PASOK MP Anna Diamantopoulou.
