Greek far-right returns to parliament as left loses ground.

Greece’s Parliamentary Elections: Far-Right Resurgence Sparks Concern

While the center-right New Democracy Party secured another four years in Greece’s parliamentary elections, the entry of three far-right parties has left observers stunned. Out of the 32 parties that ran, eight emerged victorious, claiming a share of the 300 seats. The voter turnout stood at 52.82%, as reported by Balkan Insider.

The New Democracy Party emerged as the majority winner, securing 158 seats with over 40% of the vote. However, it was the sudden rise of the far-right Spartans Party that truly alarmed left-wing figures. The Spartans Party garnered 4.7% of the vote and won 12 seats. Joining forces with Greek Solution and Niki, the three far-right parties formed a coalition, earning nearly 13% of the vote and securing 34 seats in parliament.

Far-Right Resurgence and Its Implications

The resurgence of the far-right in Greece is partly attributed to its pro-NATO stance on the war in Ukraine, according to the Guardian. As an important NATO ally, Greece now faces the challenge of dealing with a significant bloc that holds pro-Russian and anti-NATO sympathies. This outcome, coupled with the far-right AFD Party’s performance in Germany’s recent elections, could potentially serve as a bellwether for future elections in the European Union.

Of particular concern is the Spartans Party, which many view as a rebrand of the defunct Neo-Nazi Golden Dawn Party, banned as a criminal organization. The Spartans Party received an endorsement from Ilias Kasidiaris, the former spokesman of Golden Dawn, who is currently serving a 13-year prison sentence for his involvement with the organization. In the party’s first post-victory statement, Vasilis Stigkas, the head of the Spartans, expressed gratitude towards Kasidiaris and emphasized their aim to bring a new style and ethos to the Greek parliament.

Principles and Ideologies of the Far-Right Coalition

The Spartans, Greek Solution, and Niki are united by a set of principles that primarily emphasize hostility towards mass immigration, close ties with the Greek Orthodox Church, concerns over demographics, skepticism towards NATO and the European Union, animosity towards Turkey and North Macedonia, and a strong Greek identity.

The Spartans Party, positioned furthest to the right, aims to preserve “the same people, the same language, the same religion, the same kind,” and advocates for the immediate return of all Greek historical artifacts from museums worldwide.

Niki’s official party platform dedicates a section to demographics, decrying the “uprooting of the native population of our country and its violent replacement by a completely foreign population in terms of culture, origin, religion, and language.” The party also references the Kalergi Plan, a conspiracy theory popular among far-right circles, which claims that the European Union seeks to exterminate the white population of Europe through mass immigration. Additionally, Niki maintains close ties with figures in the Greek Orthodox Church.

Greek Solution advocates for an alliance with Russia, the installation of an electrified fence on the Turkish border, and the promotion of traditional values. Unlike the other two parties, Greek Solution vehemently objects to being labeled as far-right and has threatened legal action against anyone who does so.

Meanwhile, the far-left and left-wing parties experienced setbacks in the election. The far-left SYRIZA, once the ruling party, achieved its worst showing since 2012, securing just under 18% of the vote and 48 seats. The center-left PASOK won 11.86% of the vote, earning them 32 seats, while the Greek Communist Party, KKE, won 7.69% of the vote and secured 20 seats.

The combination of these results, along with the resurgence of the far-right, has left many left-wing figures in despair. The leftist newspaper Syntakton described the election outcome as the “darkest” in the last half-century.

“Devastated by the rise of the far right in the Greek parliament. Members of Golden Dawn have returned, via the Spartans, a party backed by jailed ex-Golden Dawn MEP Kasidiaris,” tweeted Maria Psara, a correspondent for Syntakton. “We are at the beginning of a new era, and I am afraid of the result.”

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