Members of the government and the lawmakers of the ruling new democracy party applaud Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis after a vote of no confidence against the government in Athens on January 27, 2023. PHOTO AFP ATHENS - The Greek parliament has paved the way for banning political parties whose leaders have been convicted of crimes from running in elections ahead of national polls in the spring.
The amendment aimed at preventing political parties, such as the extreme-right Golden Dawn, once Greece's third largest political force, from running as candidates was voted on by lawmakers on Wednesday after it was declared a criminal gang linked to hate crimes in a 2020 court ruling.
It would affect the small, far-right party Ellhnes or Ellines, which means Greeks co-founded by former Golden Dawn lawmaker and spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris, who was sentenced in 2020 to 13 years in jail. Opinion polls put support for the party close to the 3 percent threshold needed to enter parliament.
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The amendment, which was tabled by the conservative government, was approved by a majority of lawmakers in the 300 seat house.
No one in this room wants to see again. Before the vote, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called for a bill that would allow lawmakers to approve it, as it was a vehicle of violence against citizens leading to brutal murders and injuries.
Golden Dawn has been linked to the murder of an anti-fascism rapper and a spate of violent attacks on political opponents, immigrants and leftist activists. The appeal of Golden Dawn members, including Kasidiaris, began in June and could last up to two years.
Kasidiaris demanded that the amendment be immediately withdrawn and accused the government of plotting against democracy for its own interests.
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Under the amendment, parties can not run in elections if their real leaders have been convicted of crimes that carry a sentence of life imprisonment, ranging from treason or spying to participation in a criminal organisation.
Greece's constitution prevents an individual with a criminal record from running in elections, provided that person's guilt has been affirmed at all stages of the legal process and exhausted in appeal.
A top court decides whether parties meet the conditions to run in elections.
The leftist, main opposition Syriza party accused the government of using tactics to win far-right voters ahead of the national vote.