Greek parliament approves amendment to exclude far-right party from elections

By Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) – Greece’s parliament approved an amendment late Wednesday to exclude the far-right Ellines party from elections.

The party is led by Ilias Kasidiaris, a former deputy and spokesman for the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, who is currently in jail.

Of the opposition parties, only the center-left PASOK-KINAL party supported the amendment proposed by the Nea Dimokratia (ND) government.

The main opposition SYRIZA party voted present, while the Greek Communist Party (KKE), the left-wing MeRA25 party led by former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis and the right-wing Elliniki Lisi party voted no.

Speaking in parliament before voting on the amendment, SYRIZA’s leader Alexis Tsipras claimed that the ND government aims to gather far-right votes by blocking the Ellines party from the elections and not exclude formations with Nazi ideologies.

He accused the government of submitting the amendment with petty political calculations and with the aim of "fishing in the murky waters of the extreme right and false patriotism.”

Responding to Tsipras, Interior Minister Makis Voridis said: “Our intention is clear. Criminals cannot impersonate political party leaders,“ adding the government does not have any other agenda as claimed by the main opposition leader.