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Golden Dawn: Greece is in a state of civil war

18 October 2012 / 19:10:48  GRReporter
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Golden Dawn deputies have once again caused tension in the Greek parliament. The reason for today's outburst of shouts, boos and angry yells was the speech of deputy Eleni Zaroulia – the wife of the leader of the xenophobic party, Nikos Mihaloliakos.

During the discussion of a parliamentary issue relating to entitling Greeks living abroad to vote, she described illegal immigrants as "wretches" and "sub-humans."

She said, "It's a shame to make Greeks illegal immigrants using the infamous law of Yiannis Ragousis and to elect mayors with the votes of illegal immigrants who have nothing to do with Greece, the Greece of Plato and philosophers."

Eleni Zaroulia accused the governing coalition of "reducing Greek immigrants to any sub-human, who has invaded the country and brought a variety of diseases. This is a disgrace!"

She said, "In the era of globalization, it is not possible for the Greeks living abroad to not have a say about what is happening in the country. It is not possible to grant this right to any Ali, Hassan, Abdul and I do not know who else coming from the Third World, who has not served in the army, has not worn the honorary army uniform nor has he paid any taxes, not to mention the GDP, which hurts you."

Commentators suggest that today's racist outburst of Eleni Zaroulia was an attempt of Golden Dawn to "score points" among the Greeks abroad. Just a few days ago, one of the most influential organizations of Greeks in the USA, AHEPA, firmly opposed the strengthening of nationalist extremism in Greece and condemned the opening of a Golden Dawn office in New York.

The communication of the organization states, "Fascism has no place in the United States, whose citizens, including many Greek Americans and members of AHEPA, fought and sacrificed to defeat Fascism in Nazi-occupied Greece during World War Two."

A day earlier, the parliamentary immunity of Constantinos Barbarousis was withdrawn. He is charged with involvement in attacks on foreigners - sellers at the Mesologeio market on 9 September. The voting results were 218 "for," three "against," one abstention and a white ballot.

Next week, the parliament will consider the proposals for withdrawing the immunity of three other members of Golden Dawn: Ilias Kasidiaris, who became famous for slapping Communist Party deputy Liana Kannelli during a TV broadcast Panaiotis Iliopoulos and George Germenis known for his participation in a black metal band.

Iliopoulos and Germenis are accused of involvement in attacks on foreigners, who were selling their goods at the market in Rafina, whereas the spokesman of Golden Dawn Ilias Kasidiaris is accused of participation in a robbery and inflicting bodily harm in an attack in 2007.

At the same time, their fellow and first participant in the clashes in front of the "Hitirio" theatre Ilias Panagiotaros said in an interview for the British BBC TV channel, "the country is in a state of civil war and whoever does not see that has no connection with reality".

He replied to the reporter's remark that "civil war" was a very heavy statement, "We have illegal immigrants carrying out demonstrations being supported by left wing and anarchists, and members of the parliament supporting them in court or in the police station. The Greek society is ready, even though no one likes this, to have a fight, a new type of civil war. On the one side, there will be nationalists like us and Greeks who want our country to be as it used to be and on the other side, there will be illegal immigrants, anarchists and all those who have destroyed Athens."

According to Panagiotaros, "Revolution in Greece is going to take place after the coming, or next, elections by giving Golden Dawn first place. Now, we are third and maybe we could get to second place. In a few years, we are going to be the first political party, unless everyone in the world makes us illegal."

Despite the insistence of the BBC reporter, Panagiotaros denied that Golden Dawn exercised violence against immigrants. "We believe that they are illegal and they must immediately leave this country. Since the Greek state is doing nothing, Greek people have to protect themselves. There are no normal days in Greece. Somehow, we are ina state of civil war. "

When asked what would happen if legal immigrants were afraid, Panagiotaros said, "There are no legal immigrants in Greece. Not a single one." Then he recognized that the strategy of Golden Dawn was to force police to take actions against immigrants and to gain the right for its members to capture all persons suspected of criminal offences.

At the end of the interview, he pointed out that Golden Dawn was fashionable in the society. "The way we dress is very popular and an increasing number of people are following it. The name of the party is associated with order and efficiency."

A few hours after the release of the interview, however, Ilias Panagiotaros tried to retract his words. He blamed the British journalist of interpreting his words "as he liked" and said in his written message, "In Greece, there is no civil war ... This is an attempt of the system to create panic and to terrorize people."

 

Tags: PoliticsGolden DawnCivil warDeputiesWithdrawal of immunity
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