UPDATE- Greece bans Nazi-linked party from competing in May 21 general election

ADDED FURTHER DETAILS, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK

By Aysu Bicer and Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS / LONDON (AA) - The Greek Supreme Court on Tuesday decided to exclude a neo-Nazi-linked party from the general election set for May 21 amid concerns that the party could directly impact the election outcome.

The far-right National Party-Greeks, founded by imprisoned lawmaker Ilias Kasidiaris of the banned neo-Nazi Golden Dawn, does not meet the requirements to take part in the election, said the court, according to public broadcaster ERT.

Nine members of the court’s A1 section voted in favor of the decision, with one dissent, it added.

Daily Kathimerini reported that the court’s decision is based on a recent law that prohibits the participation in elections of those convicted of a number of serious offenses, including those involving a criminal organization.

However, the court ruled that the EAN party, a far-right party founded by Anastasios Kanellopoulos, a former Supreme Court deputy prosecutor, met the legal requirements to compete in the election.

Of 50 parties or coalitions that faced court challenges, 14 were banned from the race, the broadcaster also noted.

The National Party-Greeks was founded two years ago by Kasidiaris, a former lawmaker who is serving a 13-year prison sentence for membership in the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn.

In April, Greek media reported that if the party stayed in the running, it could change the outcome of the May 21 election, as the race tightens between the leading incumbent New Democracy Party and SYRIZA.