Greek Parliament Suspends State Funding for Spartiates Party

The Greek Parliament on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to suspend state funding for the Spartiates party, following concerns over its alleged ties to the former far-right Golden Dawn group.

The motion passed with 267 votes in favour, 15 against, and five abstentions.

The decision came after the Parliament's Ethics Committee recommended the suspension, citing a Supreme Court ruling that identified Ilias Kasidiaris, a jailed member of the now-disbanded Golden Dawn, as the party’s de facto leader. Kasidiaris is serving time for his role in the criminal organisation, which was declared illegal after a landmark trial.

The Supreme Court determined that the Spartiates party is effectively continuing the activities of Golden Dawn, leading to the Ethics Committee’s intervention. Golden Dawn, once a prominent far-right political force in Greece, was officially dismantled after its leadership was convicted of running a criminal organisation in 2020.

The vote underscores Greece's ongoing effort to confront extremist elements within its political system, reinforcing the legal precedent set by the Golden Dawn trial. The suspension of state funding is seen as a critical step in ensuring that public resources are not used to support parties with ties to criminal activities.

This development has sparked a wider debate in Greece about the balance between democratic freedoms and the need to safeguard democratic institutions from extremist influences.

(Source: Amna)