Greece's PASOK Party Calls for Legal Measures to Block Convicted Neo-Nazi from Mayoral Race

PASOK, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, issued a demand on Wednesday for legislation to prevent an incarcerated former member of the outlawed neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party from pursuing the position of Athens mayor.

Panagiotis Dudonis, a PASOK lawmaker, conveyed in a statement that the nation's political framework cannot and should not entrust authority to individuals with criminal convictions.

These statements emerged after Ilias Kasidiaris, a previously convicted ex-Golden Dawn affiliate, announced his candidacy for the Athens mayoral role.

Dudonis emphasized that PASOK has consistently been at the forefront of the fight against neo-Nazi criminal activities, and the party intends to launch a legal initiative to restrict the involvement of groups led by convicted offenders in local elections.

The far-right National Party-Greeks, founded by Kasidiaris, had its participation in the June elections barred by the Greek Supreme Court.

In an intriguing turn, the Spartans party, which Kasidiaris had pledged support for just before the elections, achieved an unexpected 4.64% of the total votes.

Following the election outcomes, Spartans leader Vassilis Stingas thanked Kasidiaris for his support.

Kasidiaris was taken into custody in 2013 alongside several other Golden Dawn lawmakers, facing accusations of belonging to a criminal organization.

In 2020, he received a 13-year sentence for involvement in the prohibited party.