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There is increasing controversy regarding the presence of members of Golden Dawn at the military parade on the occasion of the National Day on 28 October in Thessaloniki.

Today, Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris reaffirmed his disagreement with their presence but precluded that he would not attend it. "Of course I will go," Boutaris told reporters after the liturgy in the church of "St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki". He also said that if members of Golden Dawn attend the parade there will be problems, and added "I do not know whether I will leave or they will leave."

The controversy started between Boutaris and governor of the periphery of Central Macedonia Apostolos Dzidzikostas when the Mayor of Thessaloniki expressed his disapproval regarding the invitation to members of the Nazi party, for the parade on 28 October, made by the regional governor.

Dzidzikostas responded immediately: "The region of Central Macedonia does not accept lessons on democracy from Mr. Boutaris who recently received sponsorship from Golden Dawn for the environmental organization "Arktouros" and was forced to return it only after the public opinion and the violent reaction of our fellow citizens."

Boutaris also talked about Golden Dawn during the ceremony on the occasion of the announcement, of the Oecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for an honorary citizen of Thessaloniki, by the City Council on Saturday.

"By agreeing to become an honorary citizen, you honour Thessaloniki," said the Mayor of Thessaloniki, addressing the Oecumenical Patriarch and added that" this honour is our responsibility; your tolerance for all nations and faiths is also our responsibility and we need to support your mission".

Regarding the anniversary on 28 October, Thessaloniki Mayor said that this year's National Day coincides with efforts of Greece’s democracy to face a Nazi organization accused of crimes.

"This is an issue that connects yesterday and today to some extent, Mussolini's fascism with neo-Nazism, the defence of the then Greece with today’s defence of Greece’s democracy," said Boutaris.

In turn, the Oecumenical Patriarch described as a double honour his announcement for an honorary citizen and the award of a gold medal of the city as a representative of the sacred institution of the Oecumenical Patriarchate, with which the glorious city of Thessaloniki maintains unbreakable connections.

PASOK: Dzidzikostas should withdraw his invitation

PASOK asked the governor of Central Macedonia to withdraw his invitation to members of the Golden Dawn party to attend the military parade on 28 October. A statement of the press centre of the party said that PASOK was shocked and dissatisfied with the invitation.

"The governor does not seem to be aware that Golden Dawn has been identified as a criminal organization by investigators and that its leadership was arrested because of its intentions to destroy democracy and parliamentary government and establish a Nazi regime," reads the statement.

According to PASOK, the governor and his administration must understand that the Greeks have a memory, they honour victims of Nazism and punish those who are nostalgic for fascism; therefore, they fight against all forms of totalitarian regime and its consequences."

"This is required by the morality of the Greeks. This was the famous "no" of Greeks," ends the statement of PASOK.

Democratic Left will not attend the parade

The initiative of the Governor of Central Macedonia to invite members of Golden Dawn to the parade caused a reaction by the Democratic Left party, which talked about serious provocations.

"Dzidzikostas’s invitation is a serious gaffe and provocation on the day of remembrance and tribute to the anti-fascist struggle of the Greeks," reads the statement of the party and announces that Democratic Left will not attend the parade.

The Central Macedonia Region: there is nothing different from what legislation provides

Under the current law of the Ministry of Interior, the region of Central Macedonia is obliged to send invitations for the celebration on 28 October, to all MPs and all parties represented in Parliament, reads a statement of the region in response to the statements by PASOK and Democratic Left.

"The region of Central Macedonia has absolutely no chance to do something that differs from what is provided by law," reads the statement in conclusion.

The Independent Greeks party: Isn’t this a party that has been elected by the Greeks?

MP of the Independent Greeks party Chrisoula Giatagana expressed her opinion on the matter from Thessaloniki. "Isn’t Golden Dawn a party that has been elected by the Greeks? Does it exist, or not?" asked the MP. "If you want to delete it from your mind, do so. But in order for people to delete this party, measures that push people towards Golden Dawn should stop." she added.