In early June, just two weeks before the second general elections in Greece, Ilias Kasidiaris, the newly elected MP for Golden Dawn (G.D.), the neo-Nazi party that won 7% of the popular vote, was taking part in a round table discussion with two leftwing MPs, both women. The argument became heated and suddenly he threw a glass of water at one of them. When the second rose to face him, he attacked her violently with his fists.
For the pundits it was a defining moment. The G.D. had shown its violent side to the widest possible audience and would suffer the consequences. Everybody soon learned that Kassidiaris was also accused of assisting with the attack against a university professor by three right wing extremists who hit him and stole his wallet. He denies the accusation although the car that was used was hired in his name.
However, the pundits were proven wrong. The G.D. maintained its support and if anything, grew; all the polls after the election showed that it could increase it to around 12 to 15%!
A neo-Nazi party in Greece? How could this happen? There have been many explanations. Perhaps it is because it openly espouses violence and this is positively accepted by its supporters and so illustrates how a part of the electorate feels. They are angry and they want the politicians punished. One of the slogans of the party is just that, “be afraid we are coming.”
Of course, they are politically isolated especially after all these violent incidents. However, this doesn’t harm them. On the contrary, it makes more credible their claim that they are the outsiders of the political system, which they are not.
Their leader, Nikolaos Michaloliakos, has been around for many years. He had very close contacts with the leaders of the junta who were responsible for the dictatorship in Greece from 1967 to 1974 and in various elections he was a candidate with right wing extremist groups who represented them. Ideologically though, he was even more extreme, expressing openly his Nazi sympathies and, in various articles, his admiration for Hitler.
With the fall of the junta after its catastrophic handling of the Cyprus question and the coup against Makarios that resulted in the Turkish invasion, the extreme nationalists were marginalized in Greek politics. So it is quite a shock that they are back and in such strength.
Another reason for their success, apart from the anger, is the question of immigrants. As a country of entry for the European Union, Greece has faced an influx of immigrants during the last decades. The number is estimated at anything from 600,000 to one million. When the times were good they helped the economy. However, with unemployment reaching 25% they seem a burden to many Greeks who also believe that they are responsible for the increase in the crime rates, especially in the center of Athens.
The situation had almost gotten out of hand and in many neighborhoods in the city people felt unsafe. It was only during the last six months that there has been a concerted effort to stem the flow in the borders. At the same time, in an Orwellian misnomer, “centers of hospitality” have been opened where illegal immigrants are kept until they are deported. The police nowadays regularly arrest people without papers in large scale operations widely publicized. Many of those arrested have been living and working in Greece for many years but are unable to get legal permits.
The G.D. has managed to gain support in the less affluent districts in the center of Athens with its campaign against immigrants. There are incidents of beatings of immigrants and “cleansing” operations from members of G.D. who operate as a paramilitary force and are dressed with characteristic black shirts. There have also been stories of members of the party providing security escorts for elderly people (with a small fee purportedly) or undertaking to evict immigrants from houses they have occupied.
Is it the Weimar republic all over again? Some people fear so. Indeed, the Prime Minister himself has warned as much, asking for the speeding up of European assistance to Greece so as to avoid a further deepening of the recession. Furthermore, there have been incidents of clashes between members of the G.D. and anti-fascist groups with the police adopting a passive role rousing suspicions that members of its force have close ties with right wing extremists.
Talking about Weimar is a bit extreme. Despite the difficult measures that it has taken, the government has been able to hold its support. After the release of 51.2 billion Euros from the European assistance there is optimism that later this year the economy might start turning. It’s the good news that we have been waiting for almost five years now. We hope it is not too late!
