Galery

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With a large majority the Greek parliament has removed the immunity of Golden Dawn’s six members who, as expected, will be charged with various criminal acts. The vote involved 247 deputies, including only two party leaders, namely Fotis Kouvelis of Democratic Left and Panos Kamenos of Independent Greeks.

The deputies stripped of immunity are Ilias Kasidiaris, Ilias Panagiotaros, Panagiotis Iliopoulous, Efstathios Boukouras, George Germenis and Chrisovalandis Alexopoulos.

The Golden Dawners refused to participate in the vote on the grounds that they were reluctant "to legalize the attempt for violating the Constitution and the political system on the part of the government," as stated by Ilias Kasidiaris in an attempt to attach political significance to the actions for which they will be responsible before justice.

He also said that the persecution of Golden Dawn was a "disgusting conspiracy" ordered by "foreign centres of ruling like the European Commission and the Americans," adding, "Those who should have to sit in the dock are the thieves and fraudsters who have destroyed the country and sold it to the moneylenders."

A day earlier, leader of Golden Dawn, Nikos Michaloliakos, and deputies Christos Pappas and Yiannis Lagos, had asked permission to go to parliament to vote for the removal of the immunity of their fellow party members but the prosecutor of the prison in Korydallos where they are detained in custody had rejected their request.

It is expected that the vote on an amendment to the law which would provide for the termination of state funding of political parties whose members are accused of involvement in a criminal organization or terrorist actions will take place on Thursday. According to sources, all parliamentary parties support the government's proposal. This also applies to the main parliamentary party, SYRIZA, which has submitted its amendment in connection with the same issue. In its proposal the left party suggests that the measure be applied in the case of involvement in a criminal group, but not in terrorist actions.

In a desperate attempt to provoke reactions Golden Dawn has also introduced an amendment, but not within the specified period, which provides for the suspension of state funding of all parties. The extremists had submitted a proposal for a law to reduce the state funding of political parties as early as 2012.

At the same time and in parallel with the criminal investigation the service combating financial crimes is inspecting the finances of the extremist party. Four inspectors are investigating the bookkeeping of Golden Dawn in its central offices on Mesogeion Avenue.

Checks are being carried out in the offices of deputies and officials of the party too. The purpose of the government institutions is to identify the sponsors of the organization. It is expected that the authorities will also investigate Golden Dawn’s links with the businessmen who had provided foodstuffs for the party’s campaigns.