The vast majority in the Greek Parliament has just approved the amendment proposed by the Ministry of the Interior concerning the suspension of backing for the Spartan Party. A group claiming to be "high-right" is expected to reimburse subsidies from the state budget.
The decision to reimburse the grant was made on 17 December.
In April this year, the ultimate Court agreed to the conclusions of the leftist groups which demanded the illegalization of Spartans due to their alleged links with neo-Nazis. It was especially about relationships with 1 of the Golden Dawn leaders, Ilias Kasidiaris. The Golden Dawn organization was dissolved and Kasidiaris went to prison, where he is serving a 13-year prison sentence.
The man has retained a immense influence on public opinion. In 2023 after the exclusion of the National organization established by him from the national elections, he encouraged the Greeks to vote for the Spartan organization members, for which they publically thanked him. For this reason, Spartans are now being accused of being active with neo-Nazis.
Greek politicians who voted in favour of the amendment hitting Spartans claimed that this was the consequence of "working to defend democratic institutions and reduce fraud".
The amendment was intended to lay down clear conditions for the financing of the party, closing the 2019 legal gap that allowed groups specified as Spartans to apply for state budget grants, even if they had not formally participated in the elections to the European Parliament.
Under the fresh regulation, parties who do not take part in the elections will gotta reimburse all state funds received within 1 period of receiving the formal notification from the Ministry of the Interior.
Grants may besides be withdrawn on the basis of any alleged links with criminals or criminal activities before the case is examined by the court. In another words, it will be possible to impunityly accuse members of a organization of "shark relationships" with criminals, and that is adequate to reverse grants to a organization whose individuals are members and only later will it be possible to assert their rights in court. The measures are to be suspended for an indefinite period.
Spartans are accused of being de facto a organization led by the Golden Dawn leader, a group that was to commit acts of force in the form of self-judgment and commit "hate crimes" towards immigrants, political opponents, homosexuals and cultural minorities. The organization was hated by leftist activists who repeatedly attacked her offices. respective Golden Dawn members were found guilty of the execution of an highly left-wing activist.
Panagiotis Doudonis, a Socialist MP of the Pasok Party, felt that the amendment was adopted besides late and public money was given what he thought was “a cover for criminal activity”. – After losing more than EUR 1.7 million of taxpayers' money, the government is yet taking steps to address what we have stressed over a year. Better late than never, but this hold cost the Greeks dearly – commented the socialist, who talked about "restore assurance in democratic and public financing processes".
Vasilis Stigas, head of Spartans, emphasized in parliament that his organization legally represents 250,000 Greeks. He added that we are presently dealing with "paranoia". He or another members of the organization have no charges against them, while any Members accuse them of “deception of voters”. – To put it plainly, we don't even have a parking ticket for a traffic offence, yet we're called thieves and crooks, accusing them of misappropriating funds. – he commented, pointing out that the accusations against his organization were unfounded.
The amendment was adopted just before the planned payment of a further grant of nearly half a billion euros for political parties, any of which would go to Spartans.
Source: brusselssignal.eu, ecathimerini.com
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